Odeliza Life of a US Expat in South America


Great Things You Could Purchase in Uruguay

Posted in Montevideo, Uruguay Restaurants & Supermarkets by odeliza on the September 20th, 2008

Mahalo Chicos,

There are tons of really great things you can purchase in Uruguay. Here is a list that I often enjoy purchasing and I highly recommend of great quality. Of course there are other things you can purchase in Uruguay this list is unbiased opinion.

  1. Saffron Threads
  2. Organic Honey
  3. Fresh Cinnamon Sticks
  4. Fresh nut meg
  5. Hand woven authentic wool items
  6. Great Leather items
  7. Brazilian Shoes

Ciao,

www.odeliza.com

Lima, Peru Pictures

Posted in Odeliza's Personal Journal by odeliza on the September 17th, 2008

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Mahalo Chicos,

As I finally figured out how to shrink my pictures to fit my websites my computer has caught a vicious virus and keeps turning off on me. So this maybe my last post for the month until my other half and I fix the problem. I might be getting a new computer and as soon as I do I am going to happily smash this laptop into tiny pieces. For those of you who think you can slavage my computer thanks, but I rather have the pleasure of destroying it physcially than money or help.

Here are some pictures of Lima, Peru.peru-2008-lima-016-w2.jpgperu-2008-lima-025-w6.jpgperu-2008-lima-012-w4.jpgperu-2008-lima-015-w3.jpgperu-2008-lima-024-w5.jpg

This is the ‘boardwalk’ I might of mentioned on a previous post, as a matter a fact I am not even sure that I posted this picture before. I think it is really pretty in person, so its difficult to capture it on print. But if you can see over the cliff there is a cross that glows at night and is really beautiful. The seats and tables is a small hip caffee on the boardwalk. I liked the decor so I had to take a picture of it.

Ciao,

www.odeliza.com

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Garbage Disposal Guy in Uruguay

Posted in Odeliza's Personal Journal by odeliza on the September 15th, 2008

Mahalo Chicos,

If you live in an apartment building you’ve probably encountered what I like to call the ‘garbage disposal guy’. This person is responsible for the clogged up yuck under neath your sink and in your bathroom. He comes twice a month to our building and cleans up all the filth.

You don’t have to pay him-just a small tip-because it’s included in the common price you pay for the maintenance of the building. You see, there are no such things as garbage disposals in Uruguay, so all that mess has to be cleaned up by somebody. They call him the ‘Grasera’-Not sure if I spelled it right-, our guy is really friendly and does his job quick.

If your grasera does not come to your building it will stick like garbage. People with homes have to have someone else clean up their own sinks and toilets.

Ciao,

www.odeliza.com

September 21st Marks Spring in Uruguay

Posted in Odeliza's Personal Journal by odeliza on the September 12th, 2008

Mahalo Chicos,

I can not wait until spring in Uruguay, people are different-when it’s not freezing cold and drab with rain-in that more people smile as they walk down the streets and people are more active-because the rambla is in full effect. People fast walking, taking their dogs for trots, and riding their bikes. It’s just a much happier place. But any place that is drab some or most,rather, people are drab as well.

Midori and I will go on our usual trots down the rambla, being that we live really close to the rambla it will be great! I think I will take pictures of the ramble so people can see how pretty it looks during spring and summer and I will also take pictures of how ugly some parts are as some people do not respect their area and destroy it with graffiti and garbage. Well, it happens in a lot of countries its just not that heavily enforced, I suppose, in Uruguay, for police or beach patrol to control vandals.

Ciao,

www.odeliza.con   

Dog Walkers are Everywhere and so’s the Poop!

Posted in Odeliza's Personal Journal by odeliza on the September 10th, 2008

Mahalo Chicos,

Today, as I sip on my home made brew of lemon and hibiscus tea, I can’t help but say that there is a lot of poop on the streets and roads of Uruguay. Specially the smaller barrios like mine-Punta Caretas-. Even though it is ranked in Uruguay as one of two of the most upscale barrios in Montevideo it is still filthy. There are some attempts by the city sweep cleaners, but personally all I see them do is sit down, smoke, and jabber away their work day. So not much help there.

Although I must say I have seen -at one time- the small park across the street from our flat being cleaned by the sweep cleaners, so not all of them are lazy.

Dog walkers are every where in Montevideo -even we hire a dog walker for Midori-, usually a dog walkers has anywhere between 10-20 or more dogs they walk all at the same time-normally the dog walkers only walk the same breed- so if its beagles its more numbers-. I just can’t help but wonder if the dog walkers clean up after the dogs they are responsible for.

I really think that some do and some don’t because there is poop everywhere on the streets and roads and it’s devastatingly disgusting. I must say, I’ve seen dog owners walk away without cleaning after their dog and some-like myself- clean up after my dog. 

If more people including the dog walkers were to clean up after the dogs I know for sure the streets would be cleaner. 

Ciao,

www.odeliza.com

A Nice House in Uruguay

Posted in Snap Shots of people, places, and things in Uruguay by odeliza on the September 7th, 2008

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Mahalo Chicos,

Ever wonder why I stopped posting pictures up or wonder why I haven’t put any pictures up recently? Well, its the simple fact that I have no idea how to shrink my pictures so that they fit on each posts. But now, my other half helped show me how and- give me a break with it because I am new at it-. But don’t worry, I will slowly start to post pictures.

Here is a picture of a really nice house. Now you make think of several things; how much does it cost, what barrio is it, and how do you pay for such a house?

Well, from my two years experience living in Uruguay, I’d have to say; 1.Its mostly like over half a million North American dollars, 2. You’d have to pay in cold hard cash-that’s the only way you can purchase a house here in Uruguay, and 3. Its in Punta Caretas Barrio-which is one of two of the most expensive barrios in Uruguay-, oh and its not for sale, and will never be because the culture here is once the family dies, the house is pasted down to the family and normally they don’t sell houses like this one featured.

Ciao,

www.odeliza.com

It Does Not Look Warm and its Freezing in Uruguay

Posted in Odeliza's Personal Journal by odeliza on the September 5th, 2008

Mahalo Chicos,

While I sip on my mate, I can’t help but look out our patio window and see drab and depressing weather. When I had to take Midori out this morning it was freezing cold. Ah the days when summer is here its so beautiful. This is what I keep telling myself that summer will come and spring is just a few weeks away. I can start to explore my barrio with Midori again and sit on the sand and tan-o-rexic myself away.

Ciao,

www.odeliza.com

It Looks Warm but its Freezing in Uruguay

Posted in Odeliza's Personal Journal by odeliza on the September 4th, 2008

Mahalo Chicos,

I keep telling myself a few more weeks and Spring will come and then Summer which means beaches, the sun, and lots of family time on the weekends with mini holiday trips.

But it just seems as if the days just keep get longer, or maybe the days are getting longer and it does not seem that way it just is. I tried to take Midori on a trot this morning but it was so cold that my lungs froze and my asthma was just stealing the moment.

I can not wait until summer hits in Uruguay it is really beautiful here and the Christmas time is just wonderful.

Ciao,

www.odeliza.com

Getting Through Winter 08 in Uruguay

Posted in Odeliza's Personal Journal by odeliza on the September 3rd, 2008

Mahalo Chicos,

I must say getting through the winter of 08 in Uruguay is not so bad so far. And it is September -getting close to spring-. September 21st marks spring here and I am really happy. I love the sun as I can not express that so much more than I already have. Anyways winter of 07 sucked and it must have been a fluke. Allot of the locals have told me it was a fluke and now I am beginning to believe them.

I can take my trots with Midori and walk around town more happily warm and cozy not freezing and miserable.

Ciao,

Odeliza Jacoba

Odeliza

The Fruit of Passion

Posted in Odeliza's Personal Journal by odeliza on the September 2nd, 2008

Mahalo Chicos,

On the street Jose Ellauri, there is a small and intimate lingerie boutique that I would highly recommend. Its called La Fruit de la Passion. And its awesome. All their items are made and imported from Brazil. The only sexy under garment store in Uruguay.

Ciao,

Odeliza Jacoba

Odeliza