Beaches & Streets: URUGUAY

This past weekend I went to PUNTA DEL ESTE and then to COLONIA in Uruguay. We left on Thursday morning for the infamous beach destination, Punta del Este. It was amazing - we spent all of Thursday and Friday soaking up the sun, playing soccer on the beach, listening to music, reading, etc. It was so nice to relax and not feel any pressure to do anything touristy. The water was freezing cold and the town was slow because it is not high season, but it was lovely. Our hostel, 1949, was the dirtiest and most disgusting hostel I have ever encountered, but that didn't stop us. We just avoided it (and the shower) at all costs. We went to great dinners and saw amazing sunsets.

On Sunday we went to Colonia to see the town and our program director's bed & breakfast, La Casa de los Limoneros. The town was adorable, small, all cobblestone. The house was incredible!!! It is so perfectly designed, they didn't miss one detail, its sunny and warm, has 7 rooms to rent, and we had the best lunch in the world. Its a wedding destination for sure.

**The beach pictures are from Punta del Este. The 'town' pictures are of Colonia. Mom, there was a Beverly Beach!!

Eve's visit: 10/31 - 11/4

Eve visited for Halloween/Election weekend- it is easy to say that is was one of the best weekend in Buenos Aires and in my life so far. We had so much fun - we did everything. She made me appreciate this city in a whole new way. I found myself getting so comfortable living here, that I forgot to appreciate that I am still a bit of a tourist. I need to take advantage of the short time I have left here, and Eve showed me how to do that. She is a great traveler and I was a good tourist (she told me so!). Friday when Eve arrived we stuck to walking around my neighborhood, Recoleta. We toured and shopped and walked and caught up. We also napped. We went to dinner at Cumuná, a restaurant here Eve could get some local food and great meat. After, we got ready at my house for Halloween! We were the Spice Girls. We had a fun photoshoot and then went to a party. It was kind of a bust - we ended up coming home early, which was a good thing since we had a big weekend in store for us!

The next day we woke up and went to La Boca, which was my first time there- its a barrio in the Southern part of the city and is home to the touristy "El Caminito" and other buildings. The buildings are painted all different colors. After a FULL day of chatting and sitting in the sun, we headed back to my house for a nap and then to get ready for Emily's 20th birthday dinner. After that, we met up with my host brother Juan and his friends to go to MINT in Costanera. We had an incredible night or dancing and singing and general amazingness. We called it a night after a 7 am McDonald's run, of course.

The next day we went back to Boca for an all-day asado and fútbol fun at Gonzalo's, my host mom's oldest son's house. It was so much fun - except Eve and I lost badly to Juan and Pedro in our two on two soccer match. We stayed in that night and ate dinner at home.

The next day we went shopping in Palermo Soho, met Molly & Liam and Mark's Deli for iced coffe, etc etc. We bought out Maria Cher and loved every minute of it. This was Eve's last day and Election Day, so we were packing up, running around, etc.