"A MAN TRAVELS THE WORLD OVER IN SEARCH OF WHAT HE NEEDS, AND RETURNS HOME TO FIND IT". George Moore

After resting in Salto a few days and receiving a lot of attention from friends and acquaintances who congratulated me in finishing the trip, my brother's (Juan) neighbour said I was an inspiration to anyone who would want to do such a trip, all music to my ears, I went out to travel around Uruguay and did 2000 kms in 4 days.
I was impressed with the beauty of the farmlands between 33 and Melo. Tacuarembó and Rivera's beautiful hills and mountains and of course the friendliness from the habitants of Rivera and Artigas.
I really liked Mercedes and I passed by the Bosnia factory in Fray Bentos, which is constantly mentioned on the news.
Dolores, Nueva Palmira, Carmelo (a beautiful town), Colonia (part of the road was a disaster with very thin sand, every truck that went passed showered me in dust). Colonia is very beautiful, there was no vacant hotels all of it taken by Argentinean tourists. I had to head north up the coast and found a beauty for $US49, Posada del Bosque with breakfast, internet, cable and air con. I washed the bike and the next morning after a home made breakfast of buns and dulce de leche (a local and traditional caramel spread) I headed out to Montevideo.
In Montevideo I went to Aerolineas Argentinas to change airfare ticket, then I went to the United States Embassy to inform them I was still in their system as being in the USA as I didn't see immigration upon leaving Laredo. They gave me a form to complete and send off, which I did. Took the coastal road and arrived at Chicha Ambrossoni's place then to Pan de Azucar to see the Rodriguez family, I found Ademar, Reina and el loco had a chat and off to Maldonado to see the cousins Alo and family as well as Horacio and family. Passed by the peninsula and visitied the Brava and Gorlero beaches and at 7 p.m I followed Alo to his farm where we had a lovely supper. The next day I headed to la Paloma, then El Chuy (an eastern border with Brasil) where I was approached by a man and a woman who were journalists and wanted to interview me, thinking it was for a newspaper i said yes, but then they pulled out a film camera and a microphone so i refused, annoyed they packed up and left. I left for San Luis, I arrived at Lascano, bothered by a horrible dirt road I passed through 33, an unpleasant little town then Melo. Nearly the whole time it was raining so despite the marvelous scenery i couldn't get any photos. I stayed the night in Melo a lovers joint for 390 pesos. The next day I went to Tacuarembó, took some photos and then left for Rivera (a northern border with Brasil) In this town I was on the main road and was detoured due to road closures, they had killed a taxi driver. I got to the border and headed straight to Artigas, it is closer to go through Brasil but i went through Uruguay. At the entrance to the city I asked an old man there for directions to Chopo Roman a chicken place there used to be years ago he sent me to Rio Gas, four blocks straight and two left, (i love these towns where everyone knows everyplace and everybody). I found it although now its called Pollo Roman, he was very happy to see me, he remembered the last time we saw each other it was in the early 70's, a good mate of my youth. Then I went to a place where they work and sell stones in search of 70 Cadenas - Jose Belem. They gave me his number and i called him, he is in his 70 years now, a year ago they had kidnapped his daughter and murdered her in Montevideo. He gave me his email to give to Pito Piccion, I think he wasn't sure who I was he might have confused me with Lito Albini. He had helped us heaps when we were in New Jersey late 1960's. From there it was straight back to Salto where I arrived exhausted late afternoon.
Thursday 3rd of April I departed to Florida in bus where I met up with Ramon Iriñiz, met his wife and we had lunch together, a very dear cousin from my youth which we spent most our lives without seeing each other.
Then I went to Montevideo and had dinner with Marcela Barboza, Florencia Cordoba and my cousin Maria Albini who loves the wine as much as I do. When we finished Marcela took us to my cousin's house which is a couple of blocks from Tres Cruces, I chatted with my cousin until 5 am and then went to catch the bus back to Salto. In Salto I spend my days enjoying rides on Angelina by the river side.

This last journal/blog entry was written in a rush, since i need time to plan my next trip. Stay tuned.....

SAME TEXT HERE IN SPANISH:

Despues de descansar unos dias en Salto con un monton de atencion de amigos y conocidos que me felicitaron por el viaje, una vecina de Juan (hermano) me dijo que era una inspiracion para gente que querria hacer ese tipo de viaje, todo musica para mis oidos. Sali a recorrer el Uruguay, hice 2.000 kms en cuatro dias, me sorprendio la belleza de los campos entre 33 y Melo, Tacuarembo y Rivera, con sus montañas, colinas y por supuesto la amabilidad de la gente en Rivera y Artigas.
Mercedes me gusto mucho, pase por Fray Bentos, la fabrica Bosnia que tanto la mencionan en las noticias,
Dolores,Nueva Palmira, Carmelo (pueblo hermoso), Colonia, partre del camino desastroso con un arena fina, cada camion que pasaba me baniaba en polvo. Colonia esta muy bonita, no habia habitaciones en los hoteles en la ciudad, todo tomado por Argentinos, tuve que ir por la costanera norte y encontre una joya en Posada del Bosque por 49 U.S desayuno e internet, aire. Lave la moto y el proximo dia con un desayuno casero con macitas con dulce de leche Sali para Montevideo, fui a Aerolineas Argentinas a cambiar la fecha de mi pasaje, luego a la Embajada de Estados Unidos para informarles que no tengo salida en Laredo ya que no vi inmigracion y que seguia en el sistema, no deje USA, me dieron un papel con informacion que ya lo llene y envie. Por la rambla fui a lo de Chicha Ambrossoni, luego a Pan de Azucar a visitar los Rodriguez, encontre a Ademar, Reina y al loco, charlamos un rato y raje para Maldonado, Vi a los primos Alo y flia, Horacio y familia. Pase por la peninsula, visite la brava que en el siglo pasado trabaje colocando sombrillas, un paseo por Gorlero y a las 19.00 lo segui a Alo con rumbo a la chacra donde tuvimos una linda cena y el proximo dia, nos fuimos con Angie a la paloma, luego al Chuy donde se me acerco un hombre acompaniado de una mujer, eran periodista y me querian hacer una entrevista, pensando que era para un diario le dije que si, pero saco una camara y me metio un microfono en la cara y le dije que no, enojados guardaron la camara en su lugar y partieron. Sali para San Luis, llegue a lascano, camino de tierra horrible, pase por 33 una ciudad feita, Melo, casi todo el camino lloviendo, las vistas maravillosas, no fotos, pase la noche en Melo
En un mueble por 390 pesos. Proximo dia a Tacuarembo, saque fotos y sali para Rivera, en esta ciudad iba por la principal y tuve que desviarme, habian cerrado la calle, mataron a un taxista, llegue a la frontera y raje para Artigas, es mas cerca por Brazil, pero fui por Uruguay. En la entrada vi a un veterano y me baje a preguntar por Chopo Roman que tenia una polleria hace unos anios atrás, me mando a Rio Gas
Cuatro cuadras derecho,dos a la izquierda (Amo estas pequenias ciudades que todo el mundo se conoce)
Lo encontre aunque ahora es Polo Roman, se alegro pila de verme, se acordaba de la ultima vez que nos habiamos visto por el principio de los 70, un buen amigo de la juventud. Luego fui a un lugar que venden
Y trabajan las piedras en busca del 70 Cadenas, Jose Belem , me dieron su telefono y lo llame ya esta en sus 70, unos anios atrás le secuestraron una hija y la asesinaron en Montevideo, me dio su direccion de e-mail para que se la pase a Pito Piccion, creo que no sabia quien era y me confundio con Lito Albini, el nos ayudo pila en New Jersey a fines de los 60. De ahí derecho para Salto donde llegue super cansado de tardecita
Viernes 28 de Marzo.
Jueves 3 de Abril Sali para Florida en omnibus, donde me encontre con Ramon Iriniz,(Conoci su Seniora) almorce con ellos,Un primo querido de la juventud que nos pasamos la mayoria de la vida sin vernos.
Luego a Montevideo a cenar con Marcela Barboza, Florencia Cordoba y mi prima Maria Albini que ama el vinito como yo, cuado terminamos Marcela nos llevo al apartamento de Maria que queda a dos cuadras de Tres Cruces, hablamos con la prima hasta las cinco de la maniana y me fui a tomar el bus de regreso a Salto donde paso mis dias difrutando a Angelina por la Costanera,.