5-27 Uruguay and Tangle Show

By: Alex Spancake

Today was yet another exiting day! Although we were very tired, we somehow managed to get everyone up. The breakfast in the hotel was excellent. After enjoying a delicious meal, we grabbed our bags and set out to continue our adventure. Instead of staying in Buenos Aires, or even Argentina, we went to Uruguay. In order to get there, we had to travel via boat.
Even though the boat ride was only one hour, I am pretty sure all of us thoroughly enjoyed it. It was by far one of the nicest boats I had ever seen. The seats were the equivalent of a first class airline flight, and the ride was extremely smooth. We all enjoyed ourselves… most of us getting some much needed sleep.
Upon arriving in Uruguay, we slowly moved off the boat, not knowing what to expect. We loaded ourselves onto a bus, and listened to some interesting information, in Spanish! The speaker on the bus seemed to know everything and anything about Uruguay. I was surprised to find out how Uruguay gained its independence, and other interesting facts. Because she spoke in Spanish, we really had to pay attention and figure out what some words meant… it is amazing how much you can learn just by listening!
As the bus arrived, we peered out the window. We saw a ranch full of horses, goats, and other animals. Although seeming somewhat boring, we did not know what the tour had in store for us. As we walked into the first room of the “museum”, we were amazed by what was hanging on the walls. The tour guide explained that where we were at was the location of several Genius World Records! Whether it was thousands of key chains, or millions of pencils, that place seemed to have everything! It was something to see.
After being amazed, we found ourselves faced with something new. The ranch obviously owned all the animals for a reason, and luckily, we literally got a good “taste” of what their life is like. Delicious marmalades awaited us. We got to try many different flavors! Strawberry, Kiwi, Dulce de Leche (my personal favorite), and Onion were just some of the flavors we experienced. Also, some great cheese was served!
Afterward, we jumped back on the bus and went into the town of Colonia. Again, our tour guide was very informative about what we were about to see. After spending two hours on the bus, walked off and viewed the beautiful town. “Wow!” I thought to myself. The roads glistened with smooth cobblestone, and the houses shined with vibrant colors. We walked around the town learning about different statues and buildings, and their significance. Afterwards, we stopped for a nice meal. Lunch was great! The food here in Argentina is really something!
After eating our delicious meal, we set out into the city to check it out by ourselves! As people swarmed left and right, we went into a variety of stores. To our surprise, we found a lot of interesting items. Although, as you know, if you want to buy something, you have to talk with the cashier at the store. Most of the people in Uruguay did not speak English, so we had no choice but to talk in Spanish. In addition to this, we had to figure out how much we needed to pay on what currency we had on hand. Luckily, most stores accepted American dollars, pesos from Uruguay, and Argentinean pesos.
At last, after walking all over the city, we jumped on the bus, and eventually on the boat, and went back to Gran Hotel Argentino! I am pretty sure none of us will ever forget the name of the boat company, “Buquebus!”
Finally, we went to Senor Tango! After everyone got dressed up and looking spiffy, we set out to truly find out was Tango was, and much more. After seeing the show, I was amazed. Not only did the show have great food and amazing dancing, but it explored a brief history of Argentina and its culture. It was absolutely amazing. From the real life horses coming on stage, to the fast paced violin, to the various tango moves, we enjoyed every moment of the show.
We are defiantly looking forward to tomorrow! I LOVE YOU MOM AND DAD AND CAROLINE!