Punta del Este

First stop in my four city tour of South America, Punta del Este, the hometown of my Uruguayan bestie Paula.

After nearly a 24 hour trip, including a 10 hour stopover, I should have been exhausted, but I wasn’t. I was so excited to finally see Paula after nine months. I’d had a crap breakfast on the flight and managed to get a few hours sleep. But more than anything it was the adrenaline that kept me awake. Not even the fact of knowing we still had to drive two hours to Punta del Este could dull my mood.

A quick toilet stop and a McDonald’s (second) breakfast and we were really to head to Paula’s hometown, a wealthy beach town to the East of the capital Montevideo. Also waiting for me was Paula’s mum, Orie, who I had never met, but knew from the stories that I would adore her.

Arriving in Punta del Este

The sun was out for my arrival, and Orie greeted me with my own personalised sign and a hand-made bag! Then snacks and fruit smoothies were put out before Paula took me out to truly explore Punta del Este. I had been dying to spend some time at a beach, and our first stop was to take a picnic lunch (prepared by Orie ofc!) and to relax by the shore while we had a much needed catch-up! I had not realised how much I truly needed some vitamin D. So we sat and ate our milanesas and boiled eggs and truly relaxed…

Afterwards, Paula drove me around the fancy neighbourhoods and we went to the famous sculpture ‘los dedos’, a ginormous hand. After getting the mandatory photo, we went to la barra neighbourhood for some artisan coffee and a alfajor, a typical cake/pastry. Everyone was out in shorts and bikinis. It was a very different lifestyle to the UK…

Sunset time

Next we watched the sunset at Casapueblo, the house constructed by famous Uruguayan artist Carlos Páez Vilaró. The spectacle was so busy we struggled to even see the sun, but a kind stranger took my phone and snapped a shot of the sunset. Then we walked around and admired his art. His son is a survivor of the famous 1972 Andes plane crash. The movie Society of the Snow has recently been added to Netflix. Oh and Uruguayans clap when they see the sunset!

That evening we sat with Orie while she tried to speak to me in English and told us funny stories even Paula did not know. She was so unapologetic and caring. Silly and sweet. The way I was looked after, someone would probably believe I was Paula’s paler gringa sister. I think us three sat around the dining room chatting was my favourite part of Punta del Este…

Sunday asado…

The next morning, I was attending my first ‘asado’ at the family home. This is a social event most likened to our version of a barbecue. Orie made all the food, while we dried each other’s hair and got ready. I was nervous to meet Paula’s friends and family. They wanted to meet me, but what if I wasn’t what they expected? I was worried my Spanish wouldn’t be as good as they expected.

I was engulfed by love and friendly faces, eager to meet me. The food was absolutely unreal, from cheese fondue to an Italian Easter pastry. I tried “choripan”, and thank god I was not vegetarian! I really did feel part of the family, hearing funny anecdotes and trying to keep up with cousin Gerardo’s thick accent and him laughing through his own jokes. Full of food and having used my last few brain cells trying to keep up in Spanish, I needed a siesta so badly. But I only had the rest of that evening in Punta del Este so I wanted to truly enjoy it.

We went to a neighbourhood, literally called Beverley Hills where there was a museum Paula wanted me to see. The town was full of big summer houses that looked like something straight out of an American tv series. After finishing the weekend by trialling Uruguayan cakes and pastries, it was time to say goodbye to Orie and Paula’s hometown and head for the capital. Paula would be working during the week, meaning I would be left to my own devices in Montevideo. Two days was not enough in the peaceful sleepy Punta del Este, and I know for certain I will be back soon…