Uruguay

Let´s get this straight from the start... Montevideo does not have an ounce of charm that Colonia does.

Now that´s clear, I am left to say that there are some interesting old buildings, a port... but in comparison to BA not much more. Here are a few snaps.... and a chicken dance to boot!

Hee hee... at least I seem to have amused the the person filming this... (you need the audio on!)

However, on the upside the people of Montevideo that I met were spot on!

The owner of the coffee shop would have talked all day as I chomped into his amazing home made cakes.

The couple in the park sipping their Maté were also friendly.
(Here, as in Argentina, people seem to sit around in parks and street corners sipping Maté from their flasks, and odd shaped cups!)

Then there was the really charming man called ´Danny´!

´Danny´

In retrospect, Danny had about as much credibility as a Sweedish gangster rapper... but he was charming... and after the day I had yesterday... I took the risk in trusting this stranger, in hope that I would get another amazing experience I didn´t expect or couldn´t have planned for!

Believe everything you see... and nothing you hear!

Cas, my Solihull-ian friend I met in BA!
Fresh in my ears from a few days before...

OK... so with this in mind, when I bumped into ´Danny´ and he happened to tell me he was the owner of a club in Uruguay, I asked him the name... and sure enough it was in my guide book as he described. Credible guy!?

Since we were walking in the same direction, we got to talking more. Talking about our musical interests, we struck up a rapport, and he invited me to enter his club for free later that evening... great! Meeting another stranger looks like its going to pan out to be fun!

As we continued to talk, I asked where he was going... he was going to pick up some tickets for tonights international football game at the local stadium! (Eek, that got me... watching an international football game would top my Uruguay trip off!!!) His friend had the tickets and he just had to give him the money... and guess what, his friend would have a spare ticket for me too!!

So... International game... he would drop me off to change, we'd eat some traditional food, then party in his club (with free entry). Sounds a bit too good to be true, eh!? That is of course because it was too good to be true!!!

Ok... I am feeling gullible now... but this dude was charming... and seemed to be known locally, since as we got to his friends block of flats, the old men sat on the wall said ´Hi Danny!´ . So he is known around here... good!

So, it was time for him to go and see his friend to get the tickets! I had to give him $22 USD (about 11 GBP... not a big risk!) Only stupidly... I only had $100 on me (approx 50 GBP). Probably enough for up to 10 nights accomodation in this part of the world!

I reluctantly gave him the money, and he reassured me he would only be 2 minutes! I had a real bad feeling in my stomach as soon as he left... considering what I had just done... trusting a stranger with that amount of money.
No worries though... after a minute, he popped back and said he would not be much longer! Phew!

Never saw the B#####d again though!!!

Hee hee hee! I admire the cheekiness of the guy. I have been super cautious with everything. Bags padlocked... carrying them on my front... only taking out what I need... taking cabs in dodgy areas... and this guy actually had enough charm to get me to give him my money and I even smiled at the same time as doing so!!!

Thanks for the lesson Danny! I wish I could charm people that easily!

Thinking back, the logic is crazy... why would there be an international game on Monday??? Why would his mate have a spare ticket???

Trust

It´s a real risk to trust strangers... but before now (and after), I have taken risk on people and it has panned out really well. Not trusting people would be really sad! For now though... I am not handing over any money to anyone unless I have something in return straight away!

Thankfully I leave Uruguay in the morning... flight to Lima, Peru.... so excited about Peru!!!

Gullible but still trusting Bees Out!