Well, today, sunday, I did manage some quilting, and now we are down to 32 squares…. but yesterday was one in which we found ourselves ‘out’, pretty well all day entertaining an english visitor. Well a bit of touring around Montevideo on a saturday always includes lunch at the mercado del puerto – which did go on a bit, then round to some of the touristy shops and areas he can visit this week at his leisure – and at his suggestion, just a quick little nip into the casino which is apparently one of his fav things to do to relax. Well, I don’t mind the slots, and we hadn’t been into a casino, anywhere, for years – DH did well in a small way on the blackjack table, I made quite a few pesos on the slots, and Peter was happy with what he won also on blackjack – anyway several hours later I managed to extricate them- end of long but fun day- but of course at 11pm things are only just starting to kick along in Uruguay …

Juan, who for many years has cooked on one side or the other at our fav parrilla, laughed heartily the day I told him we have always thought he looked like Saddam Hussein.

Yours truly with english visitor Peter, and Yamandu, who was also there again on saturday. One thing I have not been able to capture with my camera on either of the times we have met is the transistor radio in leather case, hanging by a long strap from the shoulder. The holder around his scarf is silver with the head of Artigas, liberator of the country, and whose bust is Everywhere.

Claudio, whom I call the bird man – waved from the other side when he saw my camera, came over and posed – pity my photo doesn’¡t quite do him justice. His wooden mobiles of flying geese or swans, are beautifully crafted, as I said in an earlier post. He carries a bunch in his bag over his shoulder, and when he’s sold them all he adjourns to the Bar Penguinos behind him…

The communications tower of the building which is the HQ of the national fleet, down in the port area, just across the road from mercado del puerto