They got the MEATS!!! - TrunkMonkey.life

Sunday, Dec 28th

The lord's day, time to chill for us, and mozy around Colonia today. Looking to score a scooter [hopefully I don't get in a fight with it and the road like in Laos/Cambodia or wherever I was where I broke my left winglet...].

The Christmas Dinner Recipe (Full Disclosure)

NOTE-It's not fair to discuss our amazing dish without fully disclosing the Christmas dinner recipe that Heather conjured up:

                "Fresh egg pasta primavera with a'tun y pom frites" and a split of Chandon to celebrate: [fresh= crafted using only a microwave, hot pot and basic implements, egg noodles= ramen [2 packages], primavera=frozen broccoli medley, a'tun= tuna from a can, y= and, pom frites= crunched potato chips. The split of Chandon was a treat and for realz].
            

So, Montevideo...

I hate to say it, but it kinda came and went. Due to Navidad, which was Feliz in that we kinda had to chill, most everywhere was shut down or in holiday mode. We did get a walking tour on the last day AND a meat experience [see pix].

These people have 4 cows/human, the largest MEAT-eating country per capita at 100kg [220lbs]/person/year.

The parrillada arrives: a footed cast-iron brazier heaped with grilled meats on the outdoor table, beside a plate of tomato-and-lettuce salad, beer and wine

The hotel's antique open-cage elevator in black wrought iron with a gilded wreath medallion, standing on patterned tile at the foot of a marble stair

The MEAT Cometh

As per usual, the Spanish menu hits our table, and we are clueless [esp. since I don't know much about or eat much red MEAT...]. Finally, I hee-hawed around with the server, landing on a mix of MEAT and 2 [small] sides came with it.

A few minutes after ordering, I realized it may be too much. I frantically stopped the server, wanting to change it from a 2-person order to a 1-person order, yet the wheels of MEAT were already churning- the cow was already in the chute. Either way, she was an upseller of all items, taking advantage of our tourist ignorance.

                Then, the MEAT cometh. Good god! In a typical couple of weeks at home, I couldn't imagine eating this much red MEAT!
            

A cook in a bandana tending slabs of beef, sausages and peppers roasting over the coals of a parrilla grill, stacks of white plates waiting in front

The damage report: the cast-iron pan still piled with chunks of grilled beef after round one, sitting on a red Coca-Cola table

See pix before/after how little damage we did to the load. $77 and what felt like a few pounds of MEAT later in my backpack, hot, tired, buzzed... we didn't make it too far that day other than to NAPville. I couldn't help thinking about Cousin Cristiano, who would have been in MEAT/cow-heaven.

Palacio Salvo's carved stone tower rising above the palms of Plaza Independencia under a clear blue sky, people strolling the plaza below

White-faced capuchin monkey sitting on the red canopy of a tour boat, staring at the camera

Colonia del Sacramento

Storytime: I visited here a looooong time ago with friend Cynthia. We came over on a ferry; it was a cold day, and I napped on the multi-hour cruise across the largest "mouthed" river system between Uruguay and Buenos Aires, Río de la Plata.

Cold day notwithstanding, I'll never forget how burnt my face got that day. For the next couple of weeks, my face sloughed off skin like a human snake in mating season- I just made that up. My derm friend is officially appalled with me at this juncture and may disown me- sorry, Jules.

The quaint town is very beautiful. The cobblestoned streets are lined w/ huge trees, surrounded by water, with a chill vibe, restaurants... we arrived late day, went to the store to purchase the rest of our meal- stuff to make MEAT stroganoff.

You know how cheap I am, guilty- yes, I dragged the meat all the way over here on the [4-hour] bus in my backpack from Montevideo for more MEAT meals [plural].

The MEAT stroganoff: creamy noodles tossed with strips of beef, red pepper and parsley in a battered aluminum pan

Chopping tomatoes and peppers on a little cutting board in the hostel kitchen, bruschetta slices laid out and nests of dry pasta waiting on the counter

We hung on the shore last night- I say 'night' even though it was still light at 7ish pm. BUT, wait for it- The sun sets here at 8 pm! Score!!! Long daylight hours will be one of my main requirements in finding my ultimate warm place to go during the winter months at home. Stay tuned in my quest- you too could benefit.

Hostel Life (Not Hostile)

We're staying at a Hostel, not 'Hostile', to clarify. I will only stay at a Hostel if I have a private room, not bunking up with a bunch of unknowns, waking up with 'fewer-limbs-or-organs' styled Hostel.

This one is utilitarian yet clean; the owner was nice/assistive, common areas are for all, bedrooms are private, bathrooms and the kitchen are shared, and 5 rooms in total.

The hostel common room: checkerboard tile floor beneath an oval skylight dome, an antique world map on the wall and a wooden sideboard along the side

The hostel courtyard: a round mosaic-tiled table with curved mosaic benches against terracotta walls, dappled in afternoon tree shade

As for pricing, this is the most expensive place yet, at $50/night- breakin' my bank! Even hostel pricing is getting high in certain markets!

                Point being, most residents cook to keep their costs down and rather put it into their (longer, better) travel experiences. I appreciate this because people are traveling on a budget, yet seeing cool new sites, essentially figuring it out for their passion for travel. That is what one will never find at a common/typical hotel- I'll own it.
            

New Friends from Brazil

Upon entering the kitchen, a couple of other guests were there. We ended up befriending them [see pix], they're from Brazil, and we shared the love of [my cool] music, travel, and sharing both of our foods/drinks. It was super special to hang with others based on the simplicity of humanity and commonality.

The new Brazilian friends grinning over a bowl of food at the hostel kitchen counter

The international hostel dinner, shot at a tilt: Heather and the Brazilian friends around a long wooden table of pasta plates and salad under a bare lamp

BTW, we tried a local strain of wine/grape, Tannet. It was really good.

Already thinking about what MEAT-infused dish we will be making tonight. I just finished eating some of the MEAT stroganoff for breakfast with my coffee. Good thing the MEAT is just starting- Coming up, more MEAT-ville- Argentina and Brazil.

I'll probably die of clotted arteries here rather than some random gang-ass rape in a dark alley gone sideways.

Two slices of toasted bread piled with chopped tomato and basil, warming in a speckled steel pan

Dinner underway in the hostel's tiled kitchen: grating cheese at one counter while Heather tends a pan on the stove

Uruguay Takeaway

Feeling a bit dizzy today, not from the wine dizzy, so, today might not be great- hopefully it gets better with the sun and fresh air... Tomorrow we hit the ferry to Buenos Aires...

Hasta Luego,

~Erich