Uruguayan mopeds

Familia y amigos,

¿Qué tal? I don´t know how I will put into words my experience in Uruguay! All I can say is thank the Lord for Rocío. She is the chica that got us on the trip when no one could understand us on the phone and the bus ticket office closed before we found it so we thought our trip was not going to happen. I finally got this chica on the phone and she hooked us up! We got off the boat and did a walking tour of the city first (it is very small). Everyone walks, uses small cars or rides mopeds. After a free lunch (that came with our package) of a giant salad bar, an entree, dessert, espresso.. we took a picture with the guys dressed up like historic figures (sis - like the knights in shining armor outside the roman colliseum). one of the figures, in costume, found us later and linked his arms into ours and gave us a brief tour. so we were those chicas that befriended the guy in costume from the photos. well, he took us to the top of a lighthouse, walking below us up the stairs and we had on skirts), then all of his other costumed buddies came to the top of lighthouse and there was a sudden blast of wind that gave them a view they couldn´t normally get from a lighthouse. We left them at that and went on our way. Then we went and put our toes in the sand of the Uruguayan beaches. That is the best sand I have ever felt! We walked that beach for a long time and then decided to rent a moped. It was a risky decision, being that there are no traffic rules regarding motos...you can create your own lanes and weave in and out of traffic (the cars do the same thing, tho)...but I am here to take risks (Familia - please don´t share that with PawPaw so he can sleep at night :)). Let me just say we rode that thing silly. the lady laughed when we said we had never driven one, but she sent us each on a test drive around the block and sent us on our way. It was much more difficult with two people. We rode it all over town...in skirts don´t forget..and other than the fact that we were the only people on a moto in skirts on a windy day, we blended right in with the locals. We named her ´Rocío´¨ after the woman that got us to Uruguay, and Rocío the moto took us out that night...then we parked her in the garage of the hotel later and decided to take her out again. So they opened the garage for us and we took her back out. We got up early this morning and rode her down the coast of the Uruguayan beaches one last time before we had to go. We loved the town and had a fabulous time.

our boat docked this morning and we went straight to the school to take our placement tests. we have come down with colds, but Gretchen got pretty sick today and had to leave school. ¡pobrecita! I, on the other hand, had to stay for my 4 hour lesson. I learned a good bit and met some great people. When I get to know them better, I will send more details.

We´re back in the city now...and coming home from school in rush hour traffic on the subway was not my favorite part of the day, but it was fun to keep up pace with people in the streets (like New york city)and act as if I were going somewhere importante, too. (i was - to check on Gretch!)

We are very ready to start our routines here and meet tons of locals. Initially, it is difficult because these people are very verbal about their political beliefs, and being that they hate our President...sometimes they aren´t as welcoming. Of course when they get to know us, it´s all good. People here like blue eyes (ellen - you know this - remember México?)..yesterday someone called mine ´cielitos´ which means ´little skies´ - lol, those romance languages.

Well thanks so much everyone for your emails and comments! To answer some of your questions -Vega - the address is on my profile, Lisa, we are two hours ahead of your time, and Sarah - I hope you are enjoying Virginia! I can´t wait to hear about your New Year trip. I hope I can write you back individually soon. I miss you all! I am going to cook dinner in the apartamento now for my sick roomie. Besos,
Laura