From Colonia we took a three-hour bus ride to Montevideo, the last city we would visit in South America…this trip. Montevideo is the southernmost capital in the Americas and has a population of about 1.3 million people, making up about a third of the small country’s entire population. Last city means a last hotel, and we treated ourselves to the Hotel América which had such luxuries as a copious breakfast buffet, daily room-cleaning, and enough floors to require elevators!

The Palacio Salvo has an identical sibling over in Buenos Aires, the Palacio Barolo; both were designed by Italian architect Mario Palanti who lived in Buenos Aires.

Reconstructed city gate on Plaza Independencia leading to the Historic District

Looking back over Plaza Independencia

As it was overcast the following couple of days, this was the last sunset we enjoyed in South America.

Photo-loving youngsters in the historic center

Uruguay’s signature wine is Tannat, described as having a strong character and taste, perfect as a red-meat accompaniment.

National hero José Gervasio Artigas

The “Templo Inglés,” the Anglican Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity

Never without their yerba mate, Uruguayans take their mate-cup-selection quite seriously.

Montevideo Metropolitan Cathedral

Port Market

Argentina and Uruguay have a long-standing rival about who invented Tango. As for our observations, we did see more Tango in the streets of Montevideo than Buenos Aires.

Fuente de los Candados, a love-locks fountain

Checking out!

The day we were to leave, the weather was stormy; strong winds were bending the tops of palm trees and garbage was blowing through the streets. I was worried that hurricane-weather was coming back and our flight may be delayed or canceled, fears that were realized when I received an email saying our flight from Montevideo to São Paulo had been canceled. A quick Google search confirmed that the flight was still “on time” so we rushed to the airport to figure out what had happened. We had been, in fact, re-routed completely for our trip to Los Angeles, eliminating one connection and shaving off about four hours of what was to be a 22-hour trip. It was good we got the airport early, though. Who knows if we would have made it through the lines in time otherwise.

On a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, complete with groovy lighting and touch-tint windows. Adios South America…we’re on our way, North America!