View from the hotel window, Las Vegas

View from the Tuscany Hotel, Las Vegas, November 2014

Sorry, this trip is for people only

oscar-suitcase — eBay auctions are already counting down (boxes). Two suitcases will stay in Miami while we fly on to Las Vegas with the nearest, full of stuff for our son. Cats need not apply.

bandido-suitcase — Nor yappy little dogs.

Not what I had in mind

When we get to Las Vegas, the first thing I need is a cheap phone, so I ordered one to pick up at an AT&T store. Since I don’t know Las Vegas, I clicked on “directions to this store.”

It appears that one more step was required.

att-store

Price shopping

We have two supermarkets in Atlántida, Tienda Inglesa and Disco, the latter a bit more down-scale. Because the wait for a cashier in Disco is often considerably longer, and it’s just a dingier experience overall, I seldom go there, but got inspired to compare prices.

Wine price comparison Uruguay: Tienda Inglesa, Disco — Wow! Quick way to knock 10% off the cost of wine.

I think that might change. A cashier offered that they also give you a further 10% on ten bottles or more, something I’ve certainly never heard at Tienda Inglesa.

Turning the heat to “low”

Gas stoves in Uruguay, generally not matched to the gas sold here — Onions and panceta getting ready for Sunday omelets

Amongst many other curiosities in Uruguay (such as virtually every refrigerator sold with a door that opens to the right, usually not reversible), you’ll probably end up with a gas stove that is not jetted properly for the “Supergas” sold here. Light the burner, turn it back towards “off” slightly, and if it’s the only thing you’re cooking, put some more distance between pan and heat!

Have moto, will massage

Massage therapist with table on motorbike in Uruguay

I have shared my fascination with motorbikes here, their number of passengers and what they carry. This rigging of our massage therapist’s to carry his massage table strikes me as rather clever — though I didn’t notice if it hides the brake light.

Milk chocolate waves

The waves near Montevideo, Uruguay, are often brown

After five years, brown waves are starting to look normal. A little.

Sunrise

Sunrise in Atlántida, Uruguay

A welcome clarity in the air and my mind after days of rain and gloomy weather.

I thought they had fixed this (rain)

Atlántida, Uruguay: once again the road has become a river

Back in February, I made a short video about our road the river.

In June I mocked the attempt to repair it, only to change my mind, change my mind again a week later, then again within 24 hours.

Alas, this year’s freakish weather has proven too much for it.

No, for real.

You’ll recall that all of five days ago I was noting the extreme and unseasonal heat.

nov-fire

Today, 1 November (equivalent 1 May topside) at 34°46′ south, we are chasing off a chill with the wood stove. It’s not that cold, but the fire feels nice.