Uruguay is a country with many freedoms. For example, you can legally drink alcohol or smoke marijuana in public and no one cares. You would think that because of this, hoodlums would be running rampant through the streets and that the city would be in complete mayhem! But actually, because of these freedoms among many others, you can sense a great deal of respect that the people have for their country. And at the hub of it all lies Montevideo – the largest city of Uruguay and the southernmost capital city of the Americas.
Executive Tower
If you’re wondering how to spend a day in Montevideo, I highly recommend you partake in the free walking tour that starts off in the Plaza Independencia (Independence Square). Here you stand at one of the focal points of the city that separates Ciudad Vieja (Old Town) from downtown Montevideo. This plaza features many historical buildings and monuments, such as the Gateway of The Citadel, the beginning of Av 18 de Julio, the Artigas Mausoleum, and several others. Also, this is where the Executive Tower is located – the workplace of the President of Uruguay, Jose Mujica, that looks like any other building, but actually represents so much more.
While most countries have large walls or gates surrounding their Presidential offices, like the White House in the United States, you’ll notice that the Executive Tower has no such thing. There is but a single guard standing outside the front of the building, and you’re more than welcome to go inside and take a look around if you please. This speaks volumes to me about the level of respect and security that is felt around the city. Though what I find even more fascinating is that the President acts like any other ordinary citizen. He drives his car to work wearing normal street clothes, shops at the local markets among the people, and is treated like everybody else. Compared to standard security protocols of other world leaders, this somewhat amazes me and almost brings about a sense of jealousy in a way.
Port Market
After you’ve spent a couple of hours on the tour admiring the plaza, the Rio de la Plata (arguably the widest river in the world), the Montevideo Metropolitan Cathedral (an architectural must-see), and the Banco de la Republica (an active bank that looks more like a national monument), treat yourself to a delicious lunch at the renowned Port Market.
Featuring a plethora of European architecture, here you’ll find some of the finest crafts, antiques, coffee-shops, and restaurants in all of Uruguay. I recommend having something off the authentic Uruguayan parrilla (grill), such as a fine cut of asado (grilled meat) paired with an ice cold brew. You won’t regret it.
Estadio Centenario
Now in order to work off some of those calories, make your way over to the Estadio Centenario – the stadium and home of the first ever World Cup, that took place July 18, 1930. As Uruguay won their first of two World Cup Championships that year, you’re truly walking into a venue of futbol greatness. When you arrive, feel free to walk right into the stadium itself and then tour the Uruguayan futbol museum that features nearly 100 years of futbol history, trophies, jerseys, match-used futbols, and more. If you’re trying to get a full meal of Uruguayan culture, this is a bite you’ll definitely want to take (Luis Suarez pun intended). To many people from the United States, this might not seem like a significant place of importance, but to practically everyone else in the world, you have to remember that futbol is a religion.
So if you’re wondering how to spend a day in Montevideo, this should provide you with a satisfying taste of what Uruguay truly has to offer. As one of the more prosperous South American countries, the beautiful city of Montevideo will give you a true feel of the amount of culture, respect, and love that the citizens of Uruguay have for their country. And if none of that sounds good, just pop a bottle of champagne and light up a joint!
