Arrival in Punta del Este

Today is the second day of my trip to South America. My mom and I landed in Buenos Aires yesterday very tired but happy to be here together with a little time to explore. We saw many sights by car and by foot...old beautiful buildings juxtaposed with new ones, tango dancing in the crowded pediastrain streets, goat meat roasting over open fires in the front of restaurants, a multitude of leather stores filled with jackets and bags in every color and pattern imaginable, cars passing and merging within centimeters of each other, violet colored Jacaranda trees intermixed with lacy sprawling pepper trees, the famous bright yellow and blue soccer stadium in a section of town called La Boca, and the Argentinian president's pink palace called Casa Rosada.

Soon it was time to go to the regional airport to meet up with my crew Christin and her husband Sean (a.k.a. Doogie). I said goodbye to my mom who flew on to see Iguazu Falls as we flew to Punta del Este, Uruguay. I had only been to Ecuador before this trip, so now I've added two new South American countries to my list of places I'm getting to know.

We had sun and temperatures in the 80's in Buenos Aires, and here it is a bit cooler since we're closer to the coast but it's still very pleasant. Our condo is on the 16th floor with excellent views of both of Punta del Este's beaches: Mansa (meaning gentle/calm) on the bay side of the point and Brava (meaning brave) on the ocean side of the point. We can see the famous hand sculpture sticking out of the beach, the tallest lighthouse in South America in the distance, an island straight ahead in the bay, and miles of coastline with waves crashing on the shore.

After walking to the supermercado and stocking our kitchen, we walked 20 minutes along the bay to the end of the point where the Punta del Este Yacht Club is located. Once we reached the club, the first thing we saw were five gigantic fur seals napping and sunning themselves on the launch ramp! When Doogie got a little close so Christin could take his picture near them, one sat up and loudly growled and burped a very fishy blast at us. So, that was enough of them (for today!), and we went into the boatyard where we quickly met Alejo, the young Uruguayan sailor in charge of boat charters. He pointed out our boat (with lucky number 13 as our bow number) and we signed off on all the equipment and imperfections like you do with a rental car. Next, we happily saw a few members of the U.S. team we recognized and met a few we didn't. They were busy trying to negotiate with the truck driver to leave the cargo container (filled with their boats) for the duration of the event--he was ready to drive away with it tonight unless it was unloaded immediately even though he only arrived an hour before we did. The team succeeded with a few strategic phone calls and even got the bolt sawn off to find the boats inside still neatly resting on the racks.
While waiting for the container to be opened, we met the team from Canada, a sailor from Argentina, and a female skipper named Juliana from Brazil. Juliana was sipping a green leaf tea from a metal spout and cup that she said is very common in Brazil and Uruguay--she gave me a sip and they all laughed as I tried to suck hard enough to get anything out of the straw only to find it very bitter. I later saw another person drinking tea out of the same type of cup...I might have to get one but put my own tea in it!

It was very windy and getting cold, so it was time to head back to the condo. Tomorrow we'll get a nick in the bottom of the dagger board epoxied, rig the boat, help the U.S. boats unload, and sail in the afternoon. The winds are rattling the rouladins on the windows, so I hope that I can sleep and that they calm down for an easier first sail tomorrow.

I'll download photos tomorrow. I hope Rusty is surviving single parenting. I miss him and the boys and can't wait for them to arrive this Sunday.