Colonia Del Sacramento, Uruguay

Easter Sunday, and Uruguay is looking up. Headed to pretty little town of Colonia. It’s all pastel coloured houses, cobbled streets, & pretty cafes. It has a lighthouse. It has craft shops. It’s a million miles away from MonteV.

However, I can only take such a Disney utopia for so long. And that’s one night. So, Uruguay – this is as far as you and I go. Truth be told I’ll miss you. And truth be told I’m lying!

I did read this fact today – Which almost goes some way to redeeming you:  The 29th of each month is National Gnocci Day! Comes from the tradition of workers being paid at the end of the month, and being able to afford to make the posh potato pasta dumplings.  Mmm.

Montevideo, Uruguay

Easter in Uruguay, and its capital Montevideo is quite possibly giving Vientiane a run for its money as ugliest city ever! Soviet Russia called – they want their architects back.

Because its Easter weekend, all of hostels are booked. I learn this on arrival. It’s ok though as the nice guy’s at El Viajero Hostel ring around for me, and find me a little place still in Ciudad Vieja , just a few blocks down.

Now, I’m gonna coin a phrase; Scooby Doo Hotel. You know, dead creepy, strange smells, no-one else around, pictures on the wall whose eyes follow you. Ok, not quite the last one. Anyway, the place came complete with a creepy caretaker character (hence Scooby Doo) who showed me around, including a tour down a pitch black corridor a la The Shining, and up a step-ladder. Thankfully it was just a ‘roof terrace.’ I use the phrase loosely. Oh and the best highlight was finding an insect in my bed. Lets call it an earwig. I’m trying not to entertain the fact that it was el bambino cockroach. Not cool.