Moving Montevideo Blog

Ciudad Vieja's Guided Walking Tour!!

2010-10-08T20:41:00.000-07:00

I've been working with a company to get a guided walking tour of Ciudad Vieja started. It is finally out and takes the visitor on a walk through the Old City with all of its highlights, history, and of course, its food. It can be seen via Iphones, Ipads, and Ipod Touches after bought through their website.

Check it out.

Uruguay is again highlighted in San Diego!

2010-08-30T07:36:00.000-07:00

Click here for the article

The Pride of Uruguay

2010-07-09T11:51:00.000-07:00

No need for a photo, no need for anything flashy here. Just one simple statement: I am proud of those Uruguayan boys. We went down fighting, and fought well. Great job guys - you were beat by a team playing better than you, but not because you lost the game. Am I rooting for Holland now? No. I like Spain. Maybe because I am upset that they beat us, or maybe because I haven't met that many Dutch people...yet.

But now onto tomorrow. Are we going to take Germany? What are the thoughts???

The Goalie and The Standing Theory

2010-07-04T16:27:00.000-07:00

This World Cup has been action packed with drama. And with this drama has come quite a few penalty kicks. I am surprised that I have not seen any stats on particular players concerning where they kick their PKs. What percentage does player A kick to the right? To the left? And to the middle.

It's this middle that has me confused as well. On more occasions than infrequently, the PK is kicked virtually straight ahead. But I have never seen a goalie hold his ground and wait for the ball to come to him. I love watching these porteros dive around as much as the next guy, but I am stumped on why I don't see the standing still goalkeeper for PKs. Do they crave the show of a large dive, in sacrifice for stopping a PK kick? Is there a football rule that makes the goalie move to one side or the other?

World Cup Side[line]notes Part 1

2010-07-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

I have never been so engrossed in a World Cup before. I found myself, during the last World Cup (back in 2006) in Bolivia. I was honestly more focused on my kitchen duties in a restaurant that I had convinced to teach me to make empanadas. Oh yeah, and testing the Bolivian beer a few times over the course of a month. Oops. You get the point though.

From the beginning until now I have watched as much as I can. Getting familiar with the teams, the countries, the players (somewhat) and trying to hone my football eye. Here, below, is one of the main thoughts that go across my mind's frame:

Flops - Are these really grown men? I have never seen such a lot of pansies. Please don't get me wrong, but the fake whining and hurting, falling on the field, feigning a serious injury and having an actual stretcher come out to the field only to see the player running one minute later is wearing on me. I don't come from a jaded please (I believe that is), and this just seems obnoxious to me. Perhaps as obnoxious as the officials not calling out the flops. A guy clearly flops? OK, give him a yellow card. Simple. And the more this happens, the less the flops will. Watching a few players in the tourney who constantly have the ball as their focus, getting knocked around, but not going down has been treasured. And at the same time sad to notice a player not going for a call, but making the play. I could go on, but I need to refrain for now...

Uruguay vs. Ghana - Uruguay Semifinal Time!!!!

2010-07-02T14:23:00.000-07:00

Football, soccer, whatever, is given the boring label many times by mainly the States. And, to a certain degree, I have to agree. Enter the Uruguay Ghana game.

I cannot believe it. I mean, yes I can, but wait, no I can't. I thought we were going to stomp all over Ghana? Instead I saw the most dramatic football game I have ever seen. I was already more involved in this game than any other...even before it began. But are you kidding me? It almost had Hollywood written all over it. Wow. Wow. Wow. Vamos arriba Uruguay!!!!!

You really can't get much closer to losing a game a few times, then with heart and sacrifice making it through. Way to go boys - you deserve this one.

Next post: Flops, and a goalie theory. Oh, and how much Uruguay rules of course. Vamos arriba Uruguay!!!!!

Really? Uruguay 2 South Korea 1

2010-06-27T01:31:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to lie - I was very nervous in this game. We weren't around for most of the second half. Sure, I am stoked that we got by these guys, but man, I hope we don't repeat this effort of today. I was hoping for South Korea not to score most of the game rather than waiting for a goal of ours. But on we go...and stronger after this close call I hope.

Sorry Mexico: Uruguay 1 Mexico 0

2010-06-22T20:26:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful goal!! And what a beautiful outcome to an entertaining game. Especially since I have many a Mexican friend that heard from me and their defeat.

Do I smell an Argentina vs Uruguay match up in the near future??? Let 'em have it boys...

Uruguay Continues On!!! Down Goes South Africa 3-0

2010-06-18T11:01:00.000-07:00

Beautiful stuff. Namely Forlan's penalty kick (can you say amazing placement rendering the goalie useless?) - what a feast for the eyes. Oh, and I couldn't stop my mind from continually thinking, "Coach Tabarez has the Uruguayan look down - such a classic Uruguayan face."

World Cup 2010 Begins!!!: France 0 - Uruguay 0

2010-06-11T18:43:00.000-07:00

The Wheww...those last few minutes were some nervous ones. We were down one player due to a red card and France was pushing at the goal for WAY too long. Great job boys - onto the next partido!!

Carnaval of Sorts...in New Orleans, Louisiana

2010-06-08T09:55:00.000-07:00

I made a quick visit to New Orleans a few weeks back. Check out the trip with these Jazz Fest pieces:

Gonomad Journal Insights
Hurricanes and Gators
A Fest of Smiles

2010-03-09T12:42:00.000-08:00

San Diego Reader just showcased Montevideo and Uruguay's Carnaval times today!!

Montevideo Street Vendors and Life on Peatonal Sarandi

2010-01-30T19:35:00.001-08:00

A new Montevideo article was just published about the town's street vendors.

Uruguayan Calendar 2010

2010-01-13T13:05:00.001-08:00

This is the best Uruguayan Calendar I have found thus far. Oh, and it's one that I put together as well. Oops.

Being A Foreigner...Or Is It?

2009-12-31T15:38:00.000-08:00

I haven't read an article that touches on a subject so well in a long time. This is worth the read!

Drawing and article courtesy of The Economist

Uruguayan Article Just Published

2009-12-28T10:17:00.000-08:00

Dos and Dont's of Uruguay spelled out. Do you agree? Disagree? Check out the article here.

Mujica and the Frente Amplio

2009-12-01T00:53:00.000-08:00

It's finalized now - Uruguay's president-elect is Jose Mujica. This picture is taken of the rambla in Montevideo. There were more than a few Uruguayans celebrating the victory...

What is Going On?

2009-11-05T15:43:00.000-08:00

I don't mean to turn the blog into a political one, but that is what is on my mind lately...please bare with me for a bit.

I read this in The Economist a few days ago: Uruguay’s Supreme Court declared unconstitutional a law that grants amnesty to military officials accused of murders and disappearances during the country’s dictatorship of 1973-85. The ruling came only days before an October 25th referendum on whether to scrap the law.

So I immediately (and excitedly) went to talk with a good Uruguayan friend of mine on the subject.

'How stoked are you?'
'There is a lot of work to still be done.'
'What??'

The conversation continued and according to them, and a few other things I have now read, the law is still in effect. This situation was only referring to one particular case. Ouch.

Oh yeah, there were not enough pink cards voted with to annul this law.

Un Video: La Ley de Caducidad

2009-10-23T17:32:00.000-07:00

It's not in English (sorry), but these are a few Uruguayans and Argentines sitting in a studio telling a bit of their story and why this annulment is important for their lives and future. If for anything else, it's interesting to see an up close and real feel of some Uruguayans and their cousins.

Uruguay Elections in a Few DAYS!!!

2009-10-22T11:43:00.000-07:00

On October 25th the long awaited elections will be held. "La Ley de Caducidad" will be voted for. A "Si" vote means that yes, the voter wants the law annulled, and the people involved in running the dictatorship will finally come to trial and meet their post-dictorial fate. Vamos arriba Uruguay!!!!!

Oh ya, and will it be Frente Amplio or the Partido Blanco winning the presidential battle?? The basic description is this: Frente Amplio is a group of liberal parties, bound together going against the old school conservative crowd calling themselves Partido Blanco. Almost sounds like a socialistic democracy against a democracy edging closer and closer to 100% capitalism.

Although, I could be off in my simplistic assessment of the parties and I would love to read some thoughts on this. And of course, thoughts on La Ley de Caducidad are always eagerly received.

CEIBAL - every child with a computer in school

2009-10-18T05:30:00.000-07:00

CEIBAL (a Spanish acronym that stands for Basic Computer Connectivity in Education for Online Learning, but also coincides with the name of Uruguay’s national tree, the Ceibo), seeks to promote digital equality and to democratize knowledge.

For nearly a year this program has been in effect, but the computers have apparently been handed out to more and more primary school children until now (all 380,000 of them now have these small laptops). The computers are donated by an NGO from Massachusetts.

Tests on whether or not this has been working with the children's education are due to begin very soon.

Either way though, and once again, rock on Uruguay!!!!!

Uruguay 0, Argentina 1 - World Cup Hunt

2009-10-16T17:58:00.000-07:00

Well, we almost got the win. But not quite. We still have a chance to make next year's World Cup showdown though, so the battling continues. Vamos Arriba Uruguay!!!!!

Dia del Patrimonio

2009-10-05T12:37:00.000-07:00

Just this past weekend Uruguay celebrated their country's history, culture, and more with the "Dia del Patrimonio". I have a definite sweet spot for countries that celebrate as often as possible for whatever reason.

Acting freely, being stupid, laughing, and rejoicing in whatever cause (not that this cause is a small one, actually quite important for Uruguay!!).

The Peatonal Sarandi street in the old town was crawling with people and vendors for the weekend festivities...including these two clowns.

Good on you Uruguay.

Tango on UNESCO World Heritage List

2009-10-05T00:20:00.000-07:00

Apparently the United Nations has declared the sultry tango dance steps of Argentina and Uruguay part of the world's "intangible cultural heritage". Way to go guys! But where was Tango started from? It's history seems a bit muddled - earlier written references to "tango" are found from Cuba and Spain (or so Wikipedia states).

But either way, this is an intense dance that I tried for one night...quickly realizing that this was not my genre. But watching it, on the other hand, I am completely entranced. I had my first and only lesson in Patagonia, Argentina around a campfire on a hiking trek. The leader of the group, Guido, let the group in on what the tango is all about. The dancing couple is so intimate, but yet so distanced. It will be for a short time only, so pervades the coldness. Its passion, desire, and a lot of other things that I honestly don't feel that I have a grasp on yet (when speaking of Tango).

Just another piece of the puzzle on my learning agenda for Uruguay...

School of the Americas???

2009-09-11T22:19:00.000-07:00

I don't get it. I went to the Museo de Memorias showcasing the years of the Uruguayan dictatorship and was told (by the director) that the USA has been involved in a school that trains future dictators and torturers. What??? I am having difficulties with grasping this idea. I don't know who or what to believe (while hoping for the best). I read this, I read that. I hear this, then hear something else.

Any ideas, feedback, quality sites would be sincerely appreciated.

I love my country America (along with my other country of Uruguay now!). I love the fact that we have helped out many nations in our short history. But I also realize that all we have done is not on the positive spectrum. I hear too many times about cover-ups or scandals or covert operations or attacks that put America into a category that I don't like. Just looking for more info...continually.