From the Past - Rusty Studebaker

A homage to all Uruguayans that keep their vintage trucks

this Stud from the 50´s still runs in Jose Ignacio, maldonado, Uruguay

A perfect subject for great pics.

Sea Food paradise

One of my strict travel rules is not to eat fish or seafood unless its really fresh, and also to eat seafood and fish when at seaside cities, specially in the southern Atlantic or Pacific where the sea food tends to be bigger and tastier.






















It came to my knowledge that José Ignacio has one of the 10 best restaurants to eat seafood worldwide, according to T& L magazine. Ofcourse that comes with a price tag attached that exceeds my modest travel budget, and also my aversion to expensive restaurants.
So come lunch time I asked around and was referred to a discreet restaurant called "La Farola", in Jose Ignacio, BTW, the town is 10 by ten blocks , so you´ll find it.
















The place is owned and run by people born and raised "in Town", it began as a grocery store, with a cafe attached and became a full fledged restaurant.
I ordered the "Tallarines con mariscos" which is spaghetti with seafood, that is best had with white wine, but I had to condescend to my company and share a beer.

The Lighthouse at Jose Ignacio

José ignacio is a very exclusive resort town located 20 minutes away from Punta del Este. If you are able to stay here it means you are pretty wealthy, or maybe you will just visit like myself.
Its lighthouse is more interesting than the one in Punta, cuz its located right smack on the beach, and besides that and the beach itself, there isn´t much else to see.
















nevertheless it has some very nice panoramas and a picturesque fishermen's cove. An ideal place to meditate and relax

Punta del Este

Not more than 2hrs away from Montevideo sits Punta del este, Uruguay and Argentina´s top seaside city, with the best resorts and fine beachfront apartments. This place becomes the playground of the wealthy people of the region during the summer.

I came here out of season and it was deserted. besides fine beaches, the port is small but interesting with the odd sea Lion sitting on the docks.

The lighthouse is another favourite place for nice pics, and  of course do not miss the sunsets.

Piriapolis

About 100 clics East of Montevideo you´ll find the city of piriapolis, named after its creator Piria, its an interesting stop if your going to Punta del este, or just for a day trip. One of its attractions is Piria´s castle, that was built as his residence.
Francisco Piria was a wealthy man of his time that bought some land in the 1890s and decided to create a Summer resort to entice the locals and nearby argies. The place had  a big hotel,casino and all the necessary tourist trap attractions of the time.

On the occasion of the marriage of his daughter Piria built a church for the ceremony, but was never consecrated as a Catholic Temple, cuz of his a affiliation with masons and alchemists, and unfortunately is now in ruins.

Needless to say that the place has very nice beaches, and a breathtaking view of the whole city from the cerro San Antonio.