What a year we picked to come to Uruguay. 2011 marks the country's bicentennial and huge celebrations are about to kick off tomorrow (Monday, October 10, 2011) One of the larger avenue's running through Montevideo, 18 de Julio, is closed down. Large stages have been erected for a day long concert throughout the streets. I sit here writing from my new home, no not the new apartment, a cafe, actually Montevideo's oldest and most historic cafe "Facal". It is an amazing place with amazing energy and a great group of waiters that as far as I can tell work 12 hour shifts every day of the week. One is a very strong English speaker, his name Gonzalo, who has become my favorite. He refers to me by name, or by "Homeboy", either makes me feel at home and special, ha! I come here at least 3-4 times per week with my laptop in hand. Whether it is to watch Arsenal play on their tvs or on my computer, write blog posts, watch the Daily Show or The Colbert Report on comedycentral.com, or just to have a late night drink and Chivito (heart attack sandwich) it is always a fun place to be. right in the cities center you feel the hussle and bussle of people. Sure, lots of tourists, but also a hot spot of locals as well. I've spoken with one of the owners who if very proud of his cafe's status as oldest in the city. He is a young man so i assume it has been handed down throughout the generations. Just a moment ago, to my suprise, i looked up at the TV above me and what do i see?? the New England Patriots versus the New York Jets.. yeah thats American Football. I love it! But wait, i'm supposed to be immersing myself in a different culture, and my own finds me!
Well back to the monumental year in which we are here. The bicentennial! probably the only bicentennial i'll ever get to experience given the time in history in which i was born. Born in 1983 i missed out by 7 years on the USA 1976 bicentennial and will be 93 when the next one comes around. Medical science... schmedical science.. I don't think i'll be around for that, and if i am, i'll be a cranky old man with a bum hip and a bad attiude about all those young whipper snappers that don't know how good they have it!!!!! HA! we can only hope! instead of copying a bunch of stuff from another good website here is a link to a neat and tidy history of Uruguay.. no its not Wikipedia.
http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ab40
now that your done reading all of that, and I KNOW you took the time to read it all! we can proceed
okay I said this would be the only bicentennial i'd ever by a part of, well as you know I'm going to Paraguay this upcoming week. They too are celebrating the 1811-2011 bicentennial. so thats two bicentennial celebrations for the math impaired.
Here is a newspaper article (yes, they still exist.. damn bloggers! (implied irony)) from the Japan Times writing about the festivities:
http://classified.japantimes.com/nationalday/pdfs/20110825-uruguay.pdf
Well back to the monumental year in which we are here. The bicentennial! probably the only bicentennial i'll ever get to experience given the time in history in which i was born. Born in 1983 i missed out by 7 years on the USA 1976 bicentennial and will be 93 when the next one comes around. Medical science... schmedical science.. I don't think i'll be around for that, and if i am, i'll be a cranky old man with a bum hip and a bad attiude about all those young whipper snappers that don't know how good they have it!!!!! HA! we can only hope! instead of copying a bunch of stuff from another good website here is a link to a neat and tidy history of Uruguay.. no its not Wikipedia.
http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ab40
now that your done reading all of that, and I KNOW you took the time to read it all! we can proceed
okay I said this would be the only bicentennial i'd ever by a part of, well as you know I'm going to Paraguay this upcoming week. They too are celebrating the 1811-2011 bicentennial. so thats two bicentennial celebrations for the math impaired.
Here is a newspaper article (yes, they still exist.. damn bloggers! (implied irony)) from the Japan Times writing about the festivities:
http://classified.japantimes.com/nationalday/pdfs/20110825-uruguay.pdf
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