Yesterday, we finally made the much recommended trip to Punta Del Este. With the cost of hostals in that area being at least double the cost of those in Montevideo, we decided to make a complete round trip in one day. So, we set and alarm to wake up “early” and took a 2-1/2 hour direct bus ride from Montevideo for 150 pesos each ($7.50 US) to the center of Punta Del Este and managed to arrive by 1:30pm. After a much needed coffee and lunch, we hit the town’s famous beach called La Playa De Los Dedos (The Finger Beach) which is marked by a giant hand sticking out of the sand.
While at the beach, we met an Oregonian couple, Brad and Monika. It turns out Monika grew up visiting that beach and was able to direct us to her favorite local restaurant. In fact, she and Brad joined us for a family style Uruguayan bbq dinner of: chorizo, dulce blood sausage, mollejas (“sweet bread”, otherwise known as thymus meat from the neck of the cow), lomo (the tenderloin cut of beef), a cheese-filled red pepper, salad, a bottle of Uruguayan wine and a few caipirinha cocktails (similar to mojitos but without mint and much sweeter made with cachaca - which is a moonshine made from sugarcane juice). Thanks again Brad and Monika for a great introduction to Uruguayan asado!
After MUCH thought and discussion, we have concluded that our understanding of “a must see beach” differs from many other people’s. Punta Del Este is a nice beach. And, as we mentioned before, we have not met a person here who has not insisted that we take the pilgrimage to Punta Del Este. We come from arguably some of the best beaches in the world. So, after traveling for a total of six hours and spending the day at a “nice beach” these spoiled travelers are less than thrilled and don’t feel the need to return since we are staying in an apartment two blocks away from a beach that is only marginally less nice.
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