Montevideo

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Montevideo is the capital city of Uruguay, a country in South America.

	montevideo Travel Guide : 1 Get in 2 Get around 3 See 4 Do 5 Buy 6 Eat 7 Drink 8 Sleep 9 Get out

Get in

Buses depart right outside MVD Airport to the Terminal Rio Branco just north of many major sites downtown (easily walkable to hotels). The cost is 21 U$ pesos. (March 2005) There are also rides to the city with hyperinflated prices, 500 U$ and more. Normal metered cabs to the center should cost about a bit more than 200 U$. The airport is about 15km outside of the city center to the east of the city.

There are direct ferries to Buenos Aires which leave twice a day, and four times a day buses which leave from the main Tres Cruces terminal to Colonia where you transfer to a ferry.

Get around

See

• The sexual diversity monument, erected in 2005, is located on Policia Vieja St., between Plaza de la Constitutioin and Plaza Indepencia. It reads "Honouring diversity is honouring life; Montevideo is for the respect of all identities and sexual orientations." It's South America's first monument dedicated to sexual diversity. Other places of interest to gay people include the Edificio Liberaij in Montevideo, where two gay Argentine bankers died in 1965.
• Underneath the statue on Plaza Indepencia is the Mausoleo Artigas. Faint red light, a urn, one tourist and two guards. It makes you wonder what the latter are doing when you leave.
• Palacio Salvo next to Plaza Inepencia, once South America's highest building still dominates Montevideo's skyline.

Do

Any part of the Rambla waterside roadway has people biking, fishing, drinking mate, and enjoying the great views. The Rambla goes along Montevideo's waterfront. Try sunset.

Buy

The Mercado Artesanos on Paraguay and Colonia is fantastic! It contains goods from different artists and craftspeople in leather, paper, woodwork, textiles, etc.

Eat

• The touristic Mercado del Puerto houses a dozen or so restaurants. Most offer grilled meat. There you can find good Paellas too.
• The "chivito" is the local sandwich with the best local meat and veggies. It can be served "al plato" (at the dish) what means it is going to take fork and knife to be eaten. It is tastier, cheaper and much bigger than a hamburger.
• Great local frankfurters with special mustard can be found at traditional restaurant chain "La Pasiva"

Drink

El Mate. The most popular traditional drink to be found anywhere and everywhere in the city of Montevideo. Mate is derived from the herb yerba that was originally used by the indigenous Gurani living near the Rio de la Plata. Most of the city-dwellers in Montevideo prefer to drink their Mate with sugar and some also add a bit of coffee grinds to the mixture. Gourds and horns are constantly being refilled from sun-up to sun-down in this city.

Sleep

• Albergue Juvenil, Canalones 935, 02-908-1324. Nice HI-Hostel close to the center. With kitchen and internet access.

Get out

Hotel Solis- rumor has it that the hotel was originally constructed by a former president at the turn of the 20th century for his mistress. The hotel is located near the Plaza de Independencia and the Teatro Solis. Prices are exceptional (10-16 USD) and the staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. Many of the best restaurants, music, bars, and sightseeing spots are literally within a few steps of the front door.