Punta del Este, Uruguay

Today we have rain & thunderstorms in Punta del Este, but we don't really mind. After getting into town yesterday morning we rushed off to the beach to catch some rays. The weather was a little cloudy and windy and we really had no idea that how strong the sun was on our backs. We look absolutely fine from the front but like a couple of lobsters from the back. Truly feeling like a couple of gringos now.

As it's only the spring, the town of Punta Del Este is deathly quiet. It's like a ghost town here. It's hard to believe that another half a million people decend upon this little place in the high season (December to February). However the prices are reflective of a hugely popular and exclusive resort. After all this is supposed to be the St Tropez of South America. I think our traveller budgets are just not big enough for this place. Thank god the facilities in our hostel are great and we're making use of them every meal time. The guys working here seem nice as well although they don't really speak much English. We just see them around sipping their mate tea from weird cups and straws and all carry a personal thermos of hot water to top up their tea. Mate drinking is a big sport here as well as futball of course. They like to watch it with all their friends, eating and drinking and screaming GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL at the TV.