Montevideo, Uruguay

I woke up to a beautifully sunny day in Montevideo, excited about exploring this supposedly enchanting city. I´m staying in Cuidad Vieja, the old town so I thought I would start my day at Plaza Independancia and work my way through the city. I was expecting the city, particularly the old town, to be crammed full of beautiful architecture and wonderful sights, however my expectations were very wrong. The city was full of concrete blocks and uninspiring buildings. I felt a desperate need to escape this disappointingly dull city. Luckily, Montevideo has a grassy promanade, 10 minutes from the centre, that follows the coast for 8 kilometres. With palm trees to my left, the glistening ocean to my right and the sun shining above, it was the perfect escape from the grey city centre.

I stumbled accross Parque Rodo, a rather large park full of swan covered lakes, fountains, statues and more palm trees than you could possibley count. It was a charming little place and a worth while detour.

I wanted to visit Punto Carretas, an old prison that has been converted into a shopping centre. I thought it might be a point of interest-yet again I was wrong! I hastily made my way to Feria Villa Biarritz, a highly recommended market set around the plaza of Villa Biarritz. From a distance the market looked small and unimpressive, however, this is not thecase once inside the market and it is easy to get lost amongst the hustle and bustle. The feria mainly consists of clothes, shoes and jewlery but nothing particularly original. The most interesting section of this market was dedicated to sweet-smelling tropical fruits, home-made jams and cheese. It certainly lacked the artistic flair and vibrant atmosphere that Buenos Aires San Telmo market always has on offer!