Hi all! We have been back a few days from our trip to Punta del Este. It was a fun little break. We decided to go as I had to leave Argentina anyway to renew my visa and we thought it would be a lot of fun to check out Punta del Este. It had been months since we had chilled on the gorgeous beaches of the Perenthian islands, Malaysia, so we were pretty keen to hit the beach again. So we loaded up the car with provisions and crossed the river (though it looks like a ocean, it is absolutely enormous) to Uruguay on the new car ferry. From the capital, Montevideo, it was a couple of hours drive to Punta del Este. I had heard a lot about this place from Shei. She had spent many of her childhood summers there, and had lots of fond memories. Punta is a super popular summer vacation spot for well-off Argentines. There own beaches are too cold, and it is only a short trip away. The place only really exists for 3 months a year, when it is completely packed, the rest of the time it is a ghost town. We went just before the beginning of the season so it was still pretty quiet. It īs a big place, not just one or 2 beaches. It stretches along the coast for many kms. Some parts of it is very built up, lots of high-rise and casinos, then there are stretches of just sand dunes and empty beaches and other less built up places that are like little villages. There were places that reminded us of home. Some remote parts were like the lighthouse at Cape Byron, others reminded us of driving around the coast up near North Maroubra. It is chock-a-block of incredible houses, huge super-luxurious mansions. The houses are not numbered, they have their own names instead! We stayed in an apartment in one of the built up areas. Each day we went off to the beach and relaxed. The beaches were surprisingly clean and almost totally empty of people. Living in Bondi we donīt usually go and hangout on the beach, usually just go and swim and go back home. So hanging out on the beach for many hours was a new experience. Luckily we had borrowed some large sun umbrellas so so didnīt totally fry. The water was frezzing though, super super cold. We went in a few times, but it was more a sun and sand experience. There were not that many Argentine toursits around, but there were quite a few local Urugauyans. The Argies always joke that the Uruguayans canīt go anywhere without bringing along a mate (a cup with a metal straw in it, filled alomst to the brim with a special herb and then with hot water poured in. Bit of an acquired taste. I donīt like it. ). I used to think it was a joke, but it was actually true, an incredibly high percentage of Urugauyans brought their mates. It really is a national obsession. On the way back we explored a bit of the old town of Montevideo, but it wasnīt particularly interesting. Since we have come back to Bs.As. , I havenīt done anything very special. Just the usual, going out, seeing friends, shopping. I reckon that shei and i have bought a whole new wardrobe worth of clothes since we have been here! The biggest news from the last few days is that the ĻgirlsĻ, Shei, Mariana and Velia, decided to get inked together. They went off to the tattoist and all got matching tatoos of a little star on the back of their necks! It wasnīt Shei or Marianaīs first, but it was for Velia. Tomorrow I am off to some pristine patagonian rivers for some fly fishing with Alberto. Will be back in about 5 days. Shei is going to stay here in Buenos Aires and prepare for her demo recording next week. Thatīs about all for the moment, love sasha and sheila
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