Montevideo, Uruguay

  Montevideo, Uruguay
Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Days 18 - 19 (25th - 26th June) - Montevideo, Uruguay

Mate kit

Today was our first go at trying the local favourite non-alcohol drink, mate (pronounce mah-tay) after searching around for the various kit that is needed to make it. Mate consists of tea-like leaves steeped in hot water, that is drunk from a gourd (container) through a bombilla (straw). We found it quite hot and bitter tasting at first, but after a few tries, we got used to the taste. It gradually becomes less bitter as water was continually added to the leaves in the gourd.

In Argentina, the drink is very popular and often drunk throughout the day. In Uruguay, they seem to go mad for it! It is not uncommon to see people walking in the streets with gourd and bombilla in one hand, and a thermos under the other arm.

La Pony Pisador

Tio cocker

As Fraser was now off his "no alcohol" order, we decided to have a cerveza, Pilsen, at one of the local bars, La Pony Pisador (or The Prancing Pony, from Lord of the Rings). We were treated to a local band, tio cocker with their anthem song, "Mirando nada." We have the lyrics, which we are part of the way through translating ...

Los Leños

That night we went along to a classy parrilla (grill or BBQ), Los Leņos where we were treated to a mouth watering slab of Uruguyian sirloin steak and red wine. The restuarant was great becuase you could not only see the meat before it was prepared, but also actually see it being cooked on the parrilla.

Mercado del Puerto

The next day we went to Mercado del Puerto to check out the market, which was full of parrillas and later that night caught an overnighter bus to Salto, a small town in Uruguay on the border of Argentina.