Just call me John Candy

So tonight I´ll begin an epic journey from the warm beaches of Punta del Este, Uruguay (25C) to the cool glacial breezes in Ushuaia, Argentina (Patagonia 15C).  I will take a midnight bus for five hours to return to Colonia (Uruguay) to board a 5.30am ferry that will last three hours and crosses back to Buenos Aires where I gain an hour, grab a cab and head over to the domestic airport for a four hour flight to Ushuaia, Argentina. My first stop in Patagonia and the most southern city in the world.  Sometimes I think about it and it seems like nothing and then I get a flash of "ummmm, you´re in South America, solo, traveling at all hours of the day and night, in spanish, seeing the most extraordinary things" and I pause, and go back to thinking yah that´s normal.

Coastline - rough seas but pretty none the less

The crew I had just spent 3 days with left to go further east through Uruguay yesterday so I hung back and did a walk around the "punta" aka point today. Beautiful scenery for a long lazy afternoon stroll.

Seriously the mussels were plentiful. I was scared I´d twist an ankle and razor myself to ribbons. Too dramatic?

Mom - this is for you. Know how you love to photograph vegetation in random places you visit.

At the end of the point there is a lookout and it isn´t really notable except that the stench is out of control. Seriously. I was mumbling to myself that there was an unresolved issue the tourist office needed to focus on immediately. No idea why but it was horrid. If I could post a scratch and sniff I would. 
Did pass by these fine ladies though...Looks like I wore the right outfit to fit into the scene. Pretty

cool looking artwork if I do say so myself and since Foxy just had her baby girl today I thought it was fitting to have a photo of this momma and her baby...¿mermaid? in my album. So Foxy this one on the left is for you. I hope Kate isn´t already smothering that baby of yours with insane kisses like she does to me. (Strange child) She can get a little rough in her enthusiasm. Can´t wait to teach your little one how to pole dance like you did for Kate (kidding). 

After I walked around the shoreline I figured it was time to hit the main drag which runs down the center of the point. It looks a little like Miami beach (only I think Miami beach folks might be insulted by that comment). Loads of gift shops and knick knack junk. In my wander and attempt to find something worth buying (I´m still strugging with that one since the only things I seem to like are from a shop that sells things from the "Orient" and it doesn´t seem to make sense to buy that stuff in SOUTH AMERICA as a reminder of Uruguay does it?)




Anyways, I came across two fine images worth photographing. One inside a shop... Tell me you´ve ever seen two dudes this happy to piggyback? EVER? This is a happy pair to be sure. Then as I walked by Burger King (okay I´ll come clean... as I came out of Burger King but only to use their washrooms. I swear to dinosaurs I ate empinadas for lunch from a local deli.)

So is it me or did Burger King Uruguay spell the last word incorrectly here??? Awaist? Awaits - right? Or do they mean this thing is going straight to "a waist"? I think someone is gonna be fired.

I did manage to get a better photo of the hand/fingers that seem to be coming out of the sand down at the beach as well. No one can tell me the significance of the installation and there is never a time when tourists aren´t all over it so this was the best I could do.  It does show you scale and utter "random-nocity" of it all. Good work Uruguay. It worked on me. I´ve come see it twice now and I think it´s insane slash a little scary.





Speaking of random check out this video I made when strolling down the beach with Tanyin yesterday... Beach Aerobics in Punta del Este, Uruguay... it was amazing to watch so much so that we joined in. You know what they say... "when in Uruguay..."

I have no idea what the internet connectivity will be like in Ushuaia so this may or may not be my last post for a week or two. Who knows maybe Ushuaia will surprise me like Uruguaian buses did.

Until then - enjoy the days folks. Chat soon.
xo
b