Author: doug
Disgusting
There is a reported case of Dengue Fever in Pocitos, one of the most upscale and populous regions of Montevideo. And a couple dozen more suspected cases.
So, what’s a government to do?
Why, the obvious: freak out and poison every living thing in the vicinity, assuredly killing every bee, butterfly, and ladybug, and probably severely impacting the health of small pets and children as well. Oh, yeah, and I guess it kind of wipes out any songbirds too
But you can be sure it’s perfectly safe, and that the HAZMAT suits are just a fashion statement. Some politico went on TV to say that rather than shut themselves inside, residents should open all their windows to allow the lovely curative chemical vapors to permeate everything in their living space.
Reminiscent of the USA in the 1950s: running behind the DDT truck…
Just another day in Yesterguay.
Pocitos photos courtesy of Lee Nelson. DDT photo shamelessly kited from somewhere.
Slightly ironic
A white truck called “colorado.”
There’s a story here somewhere
Wednesday, 8:30 AM. A block from the beach. No one anywhere nearby.
Not encouraging
About 500 meters from our front door, what looks like it can be only one thing: the base of a cell tower. I don’t like cell towers. I rarely use my cell phone. I have used one so little that I can still feel the numbness around my ear that no doubt you have long since gotten used to.
What a difference a year makes
A year ago, a friend of ours did an epic canoe trip in Patagonian Chile. He described an incredible find in Lago Copa, in the middle of the middle of nowhere: a first-class lodge, probably 15 km from the closest road.
Nestled at the base of a mountain,
obviously unattended,
but also unlocked.
So they set up camp for the night there. We heard about it, and saw the photos, not long after he returned. They never learned who built or owned it.
Recently, our friend returned to Uruguay, and we had him over for dinner. The lodge came up. Someone had flown over the lake in December and sent pictures of it now.
UPDATE 2016+02+27: the location is -44.89179, – 72.623403. The landslide happened in December. As of today, Google Earth hasn’t caught up:
Not what it looks like
Honest, they were playing! But boy do they look scary.
In the end, it was a draw.
Uruguay Natural (ANCAP)
Someone who stayed in Montevideo several years ago asked me about the horrific black cloud he saw every day over the city. I knew nothing of it, but learned it’s the product of the ANCAP refinery in the city. ANCAP is the scandal-ridden national oil company which, despite its monopoly on petroleum, alcohol, and Portland cement, and which, in response to crude oil prices dropping 60%, lowered prices at the pump by almost 3%, manages to “lose” money.
Ah yes, in the most progressive, least corrupt country in Latin America!
Why buy a fishing pole …
… when you can make one? Well, OK, one reason.
In front, signaling “I didn’t do it, honest,” is the Spinky-Faced Oriental Sand Hound.
Slow construction in Uruguay
This attractive duplex on the Rambla (beachfront road) appears to be nearing completion after what seems to me an inordinately long time. I remember specifically because the owners, Argentines, rented the El Nido Beach Hotel last summer, whether to house workers or run as a business I don’t know.
Anyway, as I have documented nearby in the past, by the time the place is ready for occupation the high season will have passed. Rents here are massively higher than the rest if the year, from 15 December through 15 March. So if you wanted to rent in the high season, you’d want to have it ready in December. Should be able to build a house in a year, no?
But then again I have no idea why they built it.