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Montevideo's Port

Attraction | "Puerto de Montevideo and Mercado del Puerto"

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Montevideo’s port is the main one in the country and one of the most important merchandise entry points to the Mercosur. The port sits on the River Plate, the estuary formed by the combination of the Uruguay and the Paraná rivers. Extending 290km from the rivers' confluence to the Atlantic Ocean, it is the widest estuary in the world, 48km wide where the rivers meet and a staggering 220km where it reaches the Atlantic Ocean. In a sense, this port is the opposite to the Buenos Aires one, the last was born as the result of the needs of a great city, while Montevideo – and Uruguay - grew up around this strategically placed natural port. Thus, the port is Uruguay’s economy ma...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on February 5, 2009

Montevideo's Port
Rambla Portuaria S/N
Montevideo, Uruguay 11000

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Rodo Park and the National Art Museum

Attraction

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Parque RodoSometimes the best way of nourishing a park is leaving it alone for a century or two. Don’t mess with the trees, let them grow and drop some seeds in their surroundings. Don’t clean the lake; if it was well designed its ecosystem will thrive. Don’t surrender to the latest Art Deco eclectic style and do not remodel the park with every new government. So simple, yet so complicated to achieve in our world.In a word: stability, an unimaginable condition in a country like Uruguay. Yet, that was exactly what happened with Parque Rodo, the largest park in Montevideo and probably one of the most beautiful in South America; almost in the same scale of...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on February 5, 2009

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Ciudad Vieja (Old City)

Attraction | "Ciudad Vieja"

Quote:

Ciudad ViejaThe "Ciudad Vieja" ("Old City") is the name given to colonial Montevideo; nowadays the area is the central neighborhood of the city. Located between the port and the Rambla it is better reached by taxi, or with any bus marked "Ciudad Vieja" or "Puerto." If taking the last, make sure to have a street map, since the Ciudad Vieja center is a few blocks away from the port.It encloses many of the main attractions of the city. The area was enclosed by a wall, which was demolished in 1829, except for its main gate on Plaza Independencia. Beyond the attractions, the area is worthy also of an aimless walk. The cobblestoned streets tastefully blend with the surrounding...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on February 5, 2009

Ciudad Vieja (Old City)

Montevideo, Uruguay

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The Rambla Promenade

Attraction

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Montevideo’s riverside is beautiful. Usually river shores are quite calm and waveless, since the waters flow parallel to them; yet, here the waves are quite wild, with strong winds forcing them to wash the promenade. The explanation is simple; despite this being the River Plate, this is one of its widest parts, and not far from Punta del Este, where actually the river meets the Atlantic Ocean. Thus Montevideo experiences a river being pushed ashore by a wild ocean climate; the water here is of high salinity, midway between fresh and ocean water. Strong winds carry a lot of humidity and make the city’s climate somewhat colder than the expected at these latitudes.From the travelers’ po...Read More

Montevideo’s riverside is beautiful. Usually river shores are quite calm and waveless, since the waters flow parallel to them; yet, here the waves are quite wild, with strong winds forcing them to wash the promenade. The explanation is simple; despite this being the River Plate, this is one of its widest parts, and not far from Punta del Este, where actually the river meets the Atlantic Ocean. Thus Montevideo experiences a river being pushed ashore by a wild ocean climate; the water here is of high salinity, midway between fresh and ocean water. Strong winds carry a lot of humidity and make the city’s climate somewhat colder than the expected at these latitudes.

From the travelers’ point of view, the result is the main attraction of this city, and maybe even the whole country, if we take into consideration that most of the important cities in it are along this shoreline.

The shore features a promenade – called here Rambla – which is with no doubt one of the best such constructions in the world. It surpasses anything I have seen along the Mediterranean Sea, be it Italy, Greece or my own country. Strong walls contain the river along most of its way, beaches, parks and port structures form the rest. Beyond the walls is a very wide walking path, then an avenue (which often changes names) and only afterwards the proper city begins. Constructing along the Rambla area is forbidden, thus walkers can enjoy unobstructed sights of several kilometers. Of uneven shape, the Rambla undulates along the coast and allows an ever changing, always magically beautiful landscape.

Early mornings and the sunset hours provide the best opportunities for energetic walks along it. The Rambla is advertised as a highly secure place, but during my walks there I experienced an oppressive presence of the police. In a country known for its military dictatorships and ongoing human rights violations (especially regarding the judicial processing of the generals responsible of the dictatorship), that was very uncomfortable. Every two blocks or so, a police car would pass next to me, sometimes stopping nearby and watching with interest my photographing. Taking pictures of them become a proven way of causing them to move away. Since I was one of the few walking the path, their harassment probably meant they had nothing better to do, but nonetheless the experience was annoying.

Near the Rambla beginning, just next to the port storage area, is a cement and rocks path advancing into the river and leading to a now obsolete lighthouse. Beyond awesome views of the town, the shoreline and the Cerrito (a small hill that apparently gave the name to the city, which apparently means "Hill-See"), this is a popular fishing point. I did not see any catch worth of dining on it, but nonetheless it seemed to be a popular spot with local fishermen and joggers.

Along the Rambla are several beaches. The first one to appear – if walking from the Old City (see that entry in this journal) is the Ramirez Beach. Forming an attractive arch, it offers good views westwards, toward the Rambla beginning and the nearby stylish MERCOSUR Headquarters Building. MERCOSUR is the name of the economic union between Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Afterwards, the Parque Rodo (see that entry in this journal) is bypassed and then the Pocitos, Buceo, Malvín, and Carrasco beaches appear amidst other attractions.

One of the beauties of the experience is that since it is located along downtown Montevideo – at least in its beginnings, since the complete Rambla runs for twenty-two kilometers – the walker can decide at any point to quit and take a taxi back to downtown. A repetitive circular path is not necessary.

A point to remember is that taking several set of clothes is a necessity during all seasons. My last walk along it was in January, 2009. Since Montevideo is on the Southern Hemisphere, that means summer time. Yet, early in the morning, the place was chilly, several short downpours wetted the whole city, and wild waves successfully and repetitively wetted all the spots the rain failed to.

Irresistible beauty.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on February 4, 2009

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Tres Cruces

Attraction

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Tres Cruces: the NeighborhoodThe name of the area means "Three Crosses" and goes back to 1813, when the "Tres Cruces Congress" took place there; the congress predates the actual republic and was related to its later foundation. Tres Cruces is located at the junction of three major roads: 18 de Julio Avenue, 8 de Octubre Avenue and Artigas Boulevard; Italia Avenue begins here as well. It is not exaggerated thus to state that despite its slightly off-center position, this neighborhood hosts the main junction in town giving rapid access to all its parts and main exits. Moreover, some of the city better known landmarks are located here.Since 199...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on February 4, 2009

Tres Cruces
Tres Cruces
Montevideo
+598 (2) 408 8710

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Montevideo Journals

More Montevideo

Montevideo's Port

Rodo Park and the National Art Museum

Ciudad Vieja (Old City)

The Rambla Promenade

Tres Cruces

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