Experience the Countryside

See the countryside available to all tourists to Uruguay -- amazingly only 20 minutes from downtown. Start at a Bodega Filgueira, one of the various vineyards in the proximity of the city. Then see the Hortifruticola 62 operated by the Fourcade-Marchisio family, who not only sell artesanal fruit and vegetable products but also cigars. Lunch is at the artist Leandro Estevez Lacava's house, complete with steel sculptures. Next stop is Quinta Capurro, which means that it is fifth the size of a farm and five times more luxurious. Finally get down to Abuelo Antonio's farm, where you'll get the chance to milk a cow. Tour takes place every other Sunday.

Old People

My dad was born just two years after the last sighting of Carlos Gardel. I guess that makes him old! I say sighting because no one wants to believe the great tango singer is dead. And someone is going to prove it tonight by defending their thesis at the "At the Foot of the Wall" museum. The Argentine people would declare him French, but the myths will be dismantled tonight by none other than the Argentine researcher Martina Iniguez.
Tonight also coincides with the day of St. John, becoming ever more popular here in Montevideo. Among other places, the feast is celebrated in Chiloe, where I was almost three years ago. If you're in Montevideo, take the opportunity to see a bonfire at Br. Artigas and Br. Espana.
Thank you to the two tourists this morning who weathered the flurry of my commentary for 2 hours.

The ghosts of Pacaembu

An Uruguayan club team is competing in tonight's Copa Libertadores final. The match will take place at the opponent's home, in the Brazilian city of Pacaembu. Although the city is not Maracana, where Uruguay stunned Brazil in 1950, it's still fun to recall historical antecedents.
The Brazilian stadium was built nine years after the Centenario in Montevideo and was the site of a 1961 Penarol victory against Palmeiras.
The field is known as an estancia for its large size.
But historical baggage is left at the door. Emotions will run furiously on the field. Penarol has no choice but to implement its disciplined defensive line like the visitor that it is against a side that includes two of Brazil's best.

Tango Encounter

July 21 through the 24 are the dates for "Encuentro de Tango Montevideo". The two groups that I went to see last year (Los Cigarros and Cuarteto Ricacosa) will not appear but that does not diminish my hopes. I know, it's true that BA takes the cake for the big tango stage, talent is spread equally on both sides of the Rio de la Plata. It is said that the two cities are really one, separated by a big river. The writer Onetti even created a fictional city that was 75% Montevideo and 25% Bs. As. because he found it inspiring. He called the city Santa Maria.

Technology of Liberation

Uruguay's 24 million head of cattle have sustained the economy ever since they were introduced before the country was even formed. That's plenty, so there'll sure be room for a few tourists!