Common Phrases in Spanish:

(if you live in Uruguay or Argentina, or planing a holiday in either of these two countries, just a warning: the ‘ll’ and the ‘y’  in Spanish is pronounced differently in only those two Latin countries. For instance, instead of pronouncing the ‘ll’ as if your saying ‘yay’ you would say ‘shh’ like ‘shh be quiet…’ Get it?)

My Name is: Me llamo…

Do you speak English?: ?Habla ingles?

I don’t speak Spanish: No hablo espanol

I speak a little Spanish: Hablo un poco espanol

Do you understand?: ?Entiende?

I understand: Entiendo

I don’t understand: No entiendo

Yes, of course: Si, claro

Just a moment, please: Un momento, por favor

I think so: Creo que si

I agree: Estoy de acuerdo

I hope so: Espero que si

Okay: Okay or Esta bien

I don’t know: No lo se

Don’t worry: No se preocupe

That’s all right: No importa

I don’t mind: Me da igual

Ciao,

Odeliza

Chicos,

When my other half and I first arrived in Uruguay we lived in a rather spacious home on one of the main streets in Montevideo, Uruguay. Artigas. Now we live right off of the same street and a smaller place that is some what secluded from the noise level of cars and pedestrians.

Punta Caretas is a much more quite zone of Montevideo, Uruguay. Montevideo is divided by ‘zonas’, there is Pocitos, Centro, Tres Cruces, Punta Caretas, Carasco, Prado, and other zonas I forgot the names of.

Pocitos is a much more younger area and is jam packed with row after row of ‘high rise’ apartment buildings. Centro is the down town area and its a bit dangerous at night, Tres Cruces is a mixture of age groups and sizes of family members, Carasco is mainly ‘larger’ homes and very minimum apartment buildings, Prado has allot of the vintage homes that are very grand with several floors, and Punta Caretas is a mixture of apartment buildings and beautiful vintage homes.

The photos that are attached here are from Punta Carteas on a sunny fall day. I don’t have any pictures of the other ‘zonas’, but will take some shots as soon as I can.

Ciao,

Odeliza

Oi,

One of the ‘perks’ of living in a small and tranquil country such as Uruguay are lazy Fall days. One can take a stroll at Parque Rodo and people watch, read a book, or even listen to really obnoxious imitation rap music.

We live a few blocks from a park named Parque Rodo in Montevideo, Uruguay. Its a nice place to take kids during the warm months because it boast a small carnival. Where youngsters can ride; Haunted House rides, bumper cars, spinny-wheeling-rides, and so much more.

The park also offers a much calmer ride for the adults-pedal boats on their man made pond-. Or one can just occupy a bench and people watch. On Sundays the park hosts the ‘Ferria Domingo’ Sunday Market, where one can purchase ‘what not’ and vegetables.

We like to walk over there with our 7 month old puppy and create havoc. Or at least that’s what happened the most recent time. Midori-our puppy- is so friendly-a trait for Labradors- that she goes up to anybody and wags her tail, says hello, gets a pat on the head, and then walks to the other person. We’ve been lucky with the people she charms her way too, except for this one time.

An Ice cream dude wheeling a cart saw Midori approach him and bolted for the street. Of course Midori thought it was a game, as I like to place chase with her myself. And the ice cream dude freaked out. Like totally!

It was funny, I was laughing cause little Midori was just playing with the guy and the person almost popped in his pants. I know it could sound cruel, maybe the man got attacked or something, but in my defense I was not the only one laughing. There were three park security people and one of them approached me and asked me in Spanish; “Can you watch your dog better it scared the ice cream man”. She said it with a sort of laughing tone, I had to laugh again. Then the other security people were laughing too. Midori went over to them and got a pat in the head.

I digress, during the Summer time in Uruguay which is December through February there is always some sort of event, groups gathering around to practice yoga or some kids playing a rough game of Futbal.

There is something for everybody. So if you are ever in the area on a nice warm and sunny day, stop on by Parque Rodo and please don’t run away from a puppy.

Ciao,

Odeliza

Oi,

Midori, my other half, and I took a little walk around our ‘zona’ Punta Caretas. Its was such a wonderful day that we could not resist. Sooner or later the weather is going to be miserable in Montevideo, Uruguay. So if you are thinking of vacationing during your summer time-May-July- bad news for you. It’s WINTER in Uruguay and the weather can be brutal.

Ciao,

Odeliza