Odeliza Life of a US Expat in South America

Mahalo Chicos,

Verde & Wok located inside the Punta Caretas Shopping Mall located on the third level. More like a fast eats place. I say fast eats because it is not quite fast food. Its more like diner style food served faster and eaten faster. So would that mean its fast food?

I ordered the fish of the day over white rice flavored in yellow curry and some grilled fresh vegetables.

Overall, the execution was done well. The veggies were still crisps, the rice had a curry flavor in it and the fish of the day was Merloza which was just grilled with a pinch of salt.

I paid 175 pesos for the entire dish about ten American dollars and it was very filling and satisfying.

Ciao,

Odeliza Jacoba

Odeliza

Mahalo Chicos,

I stand corrected, there are people in Montevideo, Uruguay that can execute a mane. Cristina Diaz located in between Ellauri, 21 de Septembre and Cornel Morra. They provide all types of services from hair, waxes, facials, massages, manicures and pedicures, tanning spray, and so much more.

The salon is positioned inside a vintage home, the decor plays off that theme. As someone that knows a thing or two about beauty salons (mom has one), their place is well kept, clean and up beat people. Good products as well; from Joicco to Tigi (my favorite is the chocolate line).

So if you are ever in the need for top quality salon services take a peak at Cristina Diaz.

Ciao,

Odeliza Jacoba

Odeliza

Mahalo Chicos,

Ah, its 6:30 a.m. and the sun is just peaking out of our window. I hear the birds chirping for their mother’s to bring them food, and our beautiful gold Lab. is ready as ever for her morning trot with me. Wait, hold up what the hell is that banging, beeping, and drilling? My gawd?! I thought we escaped the ever so locus of construction remodels and sky scrappers growing like my bamboo plants.

What’s this out side? Right in front of our once peaceful bedroom window construction. This time its appears to be conducted (not I am not saying executed) by the city. How does one know? Ah I worked in public works construction as a Director of Administration so ah yeah, I know what I am talking about.

Seems to be a renovation of the pipes. Ah, that is going to take a while.  Our last place the owner lied to us and told us that construction was just going to be in the outside area along the walls. We moved out as soon as we found another place.

This time, its the city and one can not escape the ever so growing construction in this city. So  our peace and tranquility is gone to the dogs!

Ciao,

Odeliza Jacoba

Odeliza

Mahalo Chicos,

Well I gone and did it, I joined the meat farm (gym). Personally, I love the feel of training hard with free weights, despite the yawn of indoor cardio and utterly despise some of the attitudes of fellow gym goers. But hey, as my other half would say “cutting up for competition?”

That is exactly what I am trying to do so is the reason for my detailed and rather lengthy blab about gyms. It was a bit tough deciding what gym to join in Montevideo, Uruguay. I inspected plenty of gyms in and out of my barrio. What I found; most required a sign up fee, had children playing with the free weights and some just plain out did not offer what I was looking for.

Surprisingly, Montevideo, Uruguay has a great selection of gyms from all family type gyms to small hole and the wall places, there is something for everyone. Just not for me, but I had to choose as my training at home and outside were getting rather stagnant.

Gyms like Club Bro located in the barrio of Pocitos is pretty big, indoor basket ball areas, two Olympic sized swimming pools, plenty of cardio machines (yuck) and old school weights (hey I am totally for it). Of course an entrance fee and a monthly membership the price of an upscale gym like Crunch Fitness in the US.

Turn off. I do not like paying for pricey memberships for not so great of a place. So off to another review. Club Bigua (I believe that is how one spells it). Just about the same as Club Bro but with a few out door tennis areas and a larger out side swimming area. They were not only asking for about $300.00 American dollars just to sign up and about $100.00 a month they also wanted me to have some sort of medical insurance. Shesh. What did I think about this gym? I love kids don’t get me wrong, but way way way too many playing in the weight rooms, cardio and peeing in the pool. Nah. Skip that.

Then there is the ever so elegant Golf Club located a few blocks from our place in the barrio of Punta Caretas. It’s got just about golf going for it and the place is okay. The membership fee, well not so okay it comes in at $12,000.00 American dollars for two people, $6,000.00 for the slow thinkers. Plus about $200.00 American dollars a month per person. Um, Yeah. Next.

Makko, I joined this gym right when their fresh coat of paint just started to dry. Since it was a new gym they did not have any membership fees, just pay about $35.00 American dollars a month (of course they only accept pesos). Located right across the street from Punta Caretas shopping. Their thing is a spinning class and beauty Solon, a small universal weight machine, two treadmills, tanning bed and three people locker room with shower. The concept of was nice for about a month, but then it started to get old. A serious training gal needs a challenge.

Then there’s Defensor, kinda like the first two I mentioned but a bit more ghetto! Enough said.

Then there was another gym that I can not figure out the name but its located on Luis Del Dorrey. Small, no pool, a bunch of old weights and a area to practice some martial arts (area is a bit of a stretch). They wanted a membership fee plus about $40.00 American dollars a month.

At this point I felt like I was shopping for a new house or something. I mean, I take my training a bit on the straight and serious yet have fun with it side and I don’t like wasting my time at a place that will just satisfy me for a few weeks.

Then there was this Pilate’s studio I tried for a week. A bit on the pricey side for even Montevideo, Uruguay. I had to pay $50.00 for two days about an hour each. Though the instructor I had spoke perfect English and understood a bit of my goals, it was not enough to stay. They moved closer to the mall I mentioned earlier and decided they wanted to charge me about $80.00 American dollars a month to use their newly purchased treadmill. Yikes! I mean come on, do I look like I am made out of money?

Last but not least, a gym on one of the main streets 21 de Septembre name Perfill. With a membership fee of around $200.00 American dollars and a monthly fee of around $50.00 American dollars. No pool, basket ball courts, tennis courts, steam room, and tanning beds. A gee, what’s in door number two? Well, no kids just a bunch of baby boomers, botox babies, and chatter bugs clogging up the weights you want to use. The women’s locker room can compare to my Junior high locker room, but way smaller. Shesh, for a $200.00 membership fee they could at least have regular won’t chafe your butt toilet paper. But nah, of course have to cut corners some where right? I was told by an Uruguayan the first time my other half and I arrived here that this gym was a bunch of snotty people. Close.

I stand out like a sore thumb but who cares. I joined the gym cause the weight room had most of the things I was looking for. Aside from the bored house wives its alright. A few of the trainers are really nice and spot me every time I ask.

I’ve met a few of the bored house wives and of the ones I met they seemed nice. But when I go to the gym I have my plan in place and I give my self a certain time limit to be there. A serious game face on, music on my pod pumping loud enough so the dude next to me can hear and a don’t chat or talk to me attitude dude cause I could probably do weighted squats and perfect clean Arnold’s better than you can.

Well, of course this is just my personal opinion. You check it out your self. See what suits you and go out there and get your fitness on!

Ciao,

Odeliza Jacoba

Odeliza

Mahalo Chicos,

As you may know we have a golden Labrador name Midori. She is now 4 months old and it feels like she has been with us longer.

Our days seems to stretch, afternoon tea, ciestas and the like are just not p0ssible with her crazy energy.

Before I was the mother hen and I’d wake up my other half at the crack of dawn. Those that know my other half would understand that this waking up thing did not last long for him.

So instead I’d practice some yoga, prepare my to do list for the day and then make him and I some thing to munch on for the a.m.

Now with our newly added member she has taken the role of mother hen and would wake up only my other half at the crack of dawn.

I think his patiences is wearing thin. We will see.

Ciao,

Odeliza Jacoba

Odeliza

Mahalo Chicos,

Bambu on San Jose 1290 telephone number 902-7720 located in the down town area of Montevideo, Uruguay.

The only Vegan Asian grocery store in the country. Though limited in selection as majority of the habitants eat meat like crazy here. They offer some staples.

Just a few staples I pick up there:

1. Home made tofu
2. Vegan mushroom sauce
3. Vegan BBQ sauce
4. Mirin
5. Fish Sauce
6. Coconut milk
7. Rice wine
8. Soy sauce
9. Wasabi

Enjoy,

Odeliza Jacoba

Odeliza