ML Hart's journal of observations, obsessions and inspirations
One day in Montevideo, my Spanish class ended two hours earlier than usual, at 3 pm. Generally, we just call for a taxi – that means I ask my teacher to call for a taxi, as talking on the phone is still beyond my skill level and ability to understand! – and several minutes later, …
Have you traveled to large cities before? I’ve been to New York and Chicago, London and Barcelona and Moscow. I’ve never felt in any danger there, but I’m a careful traveler. Smart at home, too, whatever city that might be. Before my first trip to Uruguay, I read dozens of articles. A lot of blog …
Montevideo has an old world / European feel to it, which isn’t that much different from major cities elsewhere in South America. The city’s buildings are a mix of readily identifiable designs, spanning more than a century, with cultural influences here are about an even mix of Spanish and Italian, which is different. You see …
The farmers market Wednesday, so it’s feria day in the part of town where I’m staying. The farmers market takes over the streets, starting about half a block from the house and extending 3 city blocks, both sides of the street. Trucks and hand trolleys, crates and canopies. Setup is underway by 9 in the …
Fui a la librería. Large bookstore, two stories high on the peatonal, the no-car-zone in the heart of the old part of the city, la Ciudad Vieja. Gorgeous building on the outside, I’ve walked by it every day on my way to and from Spanish class. Huge front windows filled with treasures and I can see …
With the help of mi profesor, Juan, I am learning Spanish. Estoy aprendiendo español. Here he is, patiently writing out my lessons at Spanish Uruguay School. The best part is the first half hour of our class meeting, where we just talk. Conversation. I get practice listening and trying to come up with the vocabulary …
Today I went to the farmacia all by myself to get sunscreen – crema protector solar. Asked for what I wanted, how much it cost, all that. Talking to BF on Skype afterwards, he asks, “You did that in Spanish??” Well, duh. What else? The farmacia is more like a “drugstore” in the US rather …
Still handling some loose ends from EE.UU. Estados Unidos. Yesterday had an email with an attachment that needed to be unzipped, printed, filled out and signed, then faxed back. You’d think the university system would have online forms, but noooo. After numerous discussions, Lillián (amazingly kind and wonderful madre de mi host familia) said there …
My first view of Montevideo, really, was also my first day of Spanish class. Lillián, la madre de mi ‘host’ familia, went with me in a taxi to show me how to get there. And she pointed out key buildings and plazas so as to get a quick look at part of the city, too. …
Flew out of Lindbergh Field and some 26 hours of travel later, I’m in Montevideo, putting my feet up at casa de mi “host” famlia for the next 4 weeks. Getting here was half the fun. Three of the smoothest flights I’ve ever had plus 2 even smoother touchdowns. Mechanical issues had delayed the flight …
