Uruguay Part 5

Uruguay Part 5

Our last week at Solanas Forest Resort, near Punta Ballena, was spent with a little activity and a little relaxation before our early departure to Buenos Aires on December 22, 2013.

We went into Punta del Este a few times for various reasons and found it unbelievable how the population had swollen since our arrival November 18th.  

When we arrived many of the hotels and restaurants were closed, the traffic lights were not operating and there was hardly a soul around.  By mid December the cruise ships had started to arrive and other people were taking up residence for their summer vacations.  One day during our last week there were five cruise ships tendered in Punta del Este which meant an instant increase of approximately 8,000 people.

On one trip we went to the Barra and Brava Beach where the famous concrete hand statue - "La Mano" by Chilean artist Mario Irarrazabal, is located right on the beach. It is absolutely enormous as you can see by the photos.  Needless to say once the cruise ships arrive the tour buses are lined up along the street here.

We also went for our treat at L'Auberge, that we had been saving for a rainy day.  We had had no more rainy days and just as well, as we were able to sit outside and enjoy the gardens.  We had very proper English tea and waffles with Dulce de Leche sauce.  They were just sublime and huge.

Our last excursion was to Lobo Island to swim with the seals and sea lions or not!!!! Around 200,000 of these aquatic creatures inhabit this island and after a 40 minute choppy boat ride on the Atlantic Ocean, with several very seasick passengers, we arrived at this magnificent place.  As it is an environmental reserve nobody but the lighthouse keeper is allowed onshore.  The water was black with both species and  they covered the rocks, both on and off shore.  They were unperturbed at our presence, carrying on their daily fish gorging and occasionally checking us out.  For the most part they just ignored us.  The cacophony of noise was deafening with all the barking and squealing and then came the water.  200,000 of them and all that fish makes for a lot of waste bobbing around.  Nevertheless, when we smelled and observed the big toilet in the ocean we elected to stay on board.  We thoroughly enjoyed the trip but then came the nightmare ride back for those who were seasick on the way out.  The journey back was much rougher with quite large waves hitting the boat.  Eventually, we got back to calmer waters and were luckily first off.  We had to walk for some time along the wharf, to dry off, as we were absolutely soaking wet.  Once dry we made our last stop at the fish stall for fresh mussels.

After five weeks it came time to bid goodbye to Solanas Forest Resort and head to the airport for our next adventure Buenos Aires..............

View of our beach from the top of the hill at Punta Ballena

Barbara at "La Mano"

"La Mano"  Brava Beach - Punta del Este 

"La Mano"

Jim at "La Mano"

View of Brava Beach on the Barra

Barbara leaning on the thumb

Monkparikeet outside our condo at Solanas Forest

L' Auberge Hotel - Punta del Este

The tower at L'Auberge - Hotel rooms inside

The pool at L'Auberge

Barbara in the grounds of L'Auberge

The Sign - note them carrying the waffles

Barbara and Jim enjoying the delicious Dulce de Leche waffles

Heading out from Punta del Este to Lobo Island

Spanish shipwreck just off Lobo Island

The Lighthouse Lobo Island

The ocean full of fur seals and sea lions

Just getting a better look

Bull Sea Lion having lunch

Jim on the boat

More on the rocks and in the water

Just fooling around!!!!!

Barbara on the boat - living the adventure

Leaving Lobo Island

Coming back to Port

Time to say Farewell to Solanas Forest