We have no need for an alarm clock. When the ship docks at 8am, the bow thruster is our wake-up call. Vibrations and rumbling, whirring, and whining sounds come right up into our room as we are located right over the thrusters. It lasts for at least ½ hour. Pleasant way to wake up, right? I would prefer the chirping of birds or a rushing waterfall – or even – gasp – the sound of an old alarm clock. This is not “magic fingers.” It is noisy, annoying, and a downright an assault to the ears.
I am getting better with my attitude. I have cut the snarky comments down to only a few a day. I am practicing the Serenity Prayer. This is a very nice ship and I like the atmosphere, just not the accommodations. I will have to think twice before I accept a Seabourn cruise in the future.
Today Michael and I both escorted excursions. I did the Jewish Experience (which he did the first time) and he did the city tour (which I did the first time). We each saw some new and different things than from the first time. I take a lot of notes while on excursion so that I may pick and choose the items I want to write about. I never know what is interesting until I try to write about it. I’ll skip the stuff Michael covered and he is definitely not writing about the stuff I covered.
So here’s my take on being Jewish in Montevideo. The first Jews came to Argentina in 1902 from Turkey (they were offered free land for farming). There was compulsory military service of five years at that time and parents did not want to subject their children to the threat of death. The new immigrants found that farming was a waste of time because it never rained where they got the new land, so off to Uruguay, which is flat and is ripe for agriculture (which is the number two industry today). Since they had some money, they became shopkeepers. In 1906, the Russians came as a result of the pogroms. They had no money so they became factory workers or laborers. The early neighborhoods were organized by common language. Today, a central committee composed of representatives from each group represents the entire Jewish community in political affairs.
I am getting better with my attitude. I have cut the snarky comments down to only a few a day. I am practicing the Serenity Prayer. This is a very nice ship and I like the atmosphere, just not the accommodations. I will have to think twice before I accept a Seabourn cruise in the future.
Today Michael and I both escorted excursions. I did the Jewish Experience (which he did the first time) and he did the city tour (which I did the first time). We each saw some new and different things than from the first time. I take a lot of notes while on excursion so that I may pick and choose the items I want to write about. I never know what is interesting until I try to write about it. I’ll skip the stuff Michael covered and he is definitely not writing about the stuff I covered.
So here’s my take on being Jewish in Montevideo. The first Jews came to Argentina in 1902 from Turkey (they were offered free land for farming). There was compulsory military service of five years at that time and parents did not want to subject their children to the threat of death. The new immigrants found that farming was a waste of time because it never rained where they got the new land, so off to Uruguay, which is flat and is ripe for agriculture (which is the number two industry today). Since they had some money, they became shopkeepers. In 1906, the Russians came as a result of the pogroms. They had no money so they became factory workers or laborers. The early neighborhoods were organized by common language. Today, a central committee composed of representatives from each group represents the entire Jewish community in political affairs.
The Holocaust Memorial was quite impressive and full of symbolism. It was very unusual and moving, placed on a rock and sandy dune along the waterfront. Opened in 1994, inspired by Jerusalem’s Wailing Wall, the memorial is a wall with a noticeable blemish – a deliberate and symbolic crack representing the rupture in the existence of European Jews. Despite the crack, the wall still stands as does the Jewish community here and around the world.
Here are a few corrections to the first post. I said there were about 350 sculptures or monuments. Boy was I wrong – there are over 1,500!!! Higher education is free to a certain point: there is one free university and three private ones, which cost money. If you go to the free university, after graduation you must pay a monthly “tax” for your entire working life. When you retire or move, you stop paying. Somehow the old axiom “nothing is free” is very valid here.
There are 10 million sheep and 10 million cows. That works out to about 4 sheep and 4 cows for every one person. They have a very low birthrate (the people). Uruguay is a large supplier of Kosher beef to Israel and this fact keeps the left leaning government, who is cozy with Venezula’s Chavez, from becoming anti-Israel.
So to sum up Uruguay, it was created as a buffer between powerhouses Argentina and Brazil so it gets no respect.
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After lunch we took a shuttle to the port entrance. This is a huge working port and one is not allowed to walk around and besides, it is way too far to get out to the street. There were at least six huge cruise ships in port today and the place was very crowded with huge trucks, cranes, buses and police directing traffic. We walked over to the pedestrian plaza where there was a street market. It was hot and a bit muggy, and we clung to the shade. I was not impressed and could not find anything to buy. If an item wasn’t handmade, it was made in China. In fact, nothing is made in Uruguay. They have no manufacturing so any durable goods have to be imported (i.e. cars, appliances, machinery, and oil). If it doesn’t come from a lamb or a cow, they don’t make it.
We returned to the ship hot and sweaty. For the second day in a row, I went in the pool! It was the only way to cool down. Average summer temperature is 75° but today was over 90°. Most homes and businesses do not have air-conditioning. I’m ready for some cooler weather!!
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