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| 03/28/2001 |
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| Montevideo
- URUGUAY |
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34°52 W 56°03 |
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Yesterday
night, the Team went out for dinner with some
local friends, as Nicole was going to bed with
fever. She has not recovered yet...
We
have a meeting this morning in the 'Palacio
Legislativo' for an exclusive visit. Nicole
stays at home but seems a bit better. We leave
her with Magda's mother, so kind.
The
yellow and black taxi has an armored window
between the passenger and the driver.
Direction: the Parliament. We try to enter but
the guards don't let us in ! But watch the
Video and read the Anecdotes !
After
the visit, a taxi driver makes a long speech
against the State and its way of governing the
country. Suddenly, he shouts :" The promises
must be kept !"... then he looks straight
in front of him, his two hands on the steering
wheel, saying nothing.
We
arrive close to the seaside and stop in
the Mercado del Porto. Buil in 1865, this huge
building was one of the first metallic
structures in the country. Many restaurants
are in the market, 'Parillas' where you can
eat meat. Sit on wooden wooden stools behind a
big counter in front of a fire, we ask for
steaks and grilled chicken. To drink, we have
the typical 'Medio Medio', a sparkling and
fruity white wine. After lunch, Marco buys
typical things, and Theo two number plates of
Montevideo, that add to his collection.
We
begin very early to edit the video and write
the Journal: tonight, we have a bus at 00.30
am to head off to the north, towards Young, an
interesting village.
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Palacio
Legislativo
To enter the
huge building, we decided to act
like 'MIB' or 'Mission:
Impossible'.
As we wear
our black glasses, severe looks
and strict faces make us feel the
bureaucracy and power around.
After we have
insisted arrives at last our
international contact, Patricia.
She planned for us a visit with a
special guide. "The
Parliament was built with Victor
Meano's drawings, an Italian
architect who died without knowing
his plans would be used. In august
1925, the Palace was inaugurated
by another italian architect,
Moretti.
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In front of
us, the original copy of the
Constitution of 1825, protected by
two guards. On the left, the
Chamber of the Deputies, on the
right, the Chamber of Senators.
The library has more than 250.000
books. Downstairs, the famous Room
of the Lost Steps and the Hall
where are paintings from the
Battle of Las Pietras against the
Spanish army or the General
Lavalleja, who fought against the Portuguese.
The Assembly
counts 31 Senators and 99
Deputies. These days, a big
discussion about an emergency law
to stop the difficult economic
situation of the country.
We wander
with our black glasses between the
colored marbles, the precious
stained glass windows and the Venetian
mosaics.
But click on
the photo and enjoy Marco's
video... Don't miss it !
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Extract
of a mail from Vicio, received
this morning: "
The
Nomad is much more than a travel,
it's a 'traveling
sociological laboratory'. The
Car@van travels across the planet
trying to understand the past,
living the present's atmosphere
and picking up the future's tendencies".
Dear
Vicio, we really think the
Community agrees with this
ambition !
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Uruguay is a small country, but
with a great artistic tradition.
The country is proud of his
famous artists like the painter
Pedro Figari, Jose Enrique Rodó,
the greatest writer of the nation,
or the actor Mauricio Rosencof.
Many music and traditional
ballets (folkloric songs, waltzes,
tangos, ...) come from Europe and
were adapted.
There are no magazines talking
about the VIP's intimacy, neither
merchandising about the stars.
Many sports are part of the
Uruguayan Culture, between Polo
and Rugby 7's. But soccer remains
the national obsession. Uruguay
won two World Cups and plays
tonight its qualification for the
2002 World Cup against Paraguay !
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We'll
leave towards the north.
As
it was, voted on the last voting
form, we go inlands to visit an
estancia - big farm.
What
about you ? Go on traveling with
us and decide on our next steps.
See
ya ! ... the real travelers !
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| Guide our next steps,insert contacts & info on |
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