uruguay, myuguay

so far montevideo has been a mixed bag. while jack was playing with his grandparents today, i was working in the filing center with our correspondent kelly o'donnell, my fellow producer antoine sanfuentes, and cameraman rodney batten. we are a serious group.





montevideo is somewhat known for its architecture. on these trips we often don't have much (read: any) free time, but today -- because the president was at rancho anchorena, the uruguayan camp david ... and because he was a three hour's drive away from monte-where-we-make-the-video, we had a bit of a break after his press conference. and, in our break we walked out through one of the capital's nicer neighborhoods to a nearby market, taking in the architecture.

the feria was not all that we had hoped for -- it was less about great folkloric artisans and more about grateful deadheads, but i did manage to negotiate to buy this donkey:




i am hoping he will be able to walk up the steps of the plane with no problem. otherwise it's a long walk/swim to colombia ... even for a mule.


there was not much good shopping at the market ... unless you're in the market for incense or jam ... and really, who couldn't use more jam?

but it was just nice to get out in the fresh air and stretch the legs ...

one thing i did find interesting: we saw a great number of children while we were out and about. babies being carried, strolled in carriages and strollers, played with, bought for. it really seems to me that uruguay is a pretty child-focused culture. but then again, maybe i notice it more since i'm missing jack ...

i'd put pictures in of this, except that i didn't take any. i thought it seemed weird to take pictures of other people's children. and i didn't want jack to get jealous!