2/15 and 2/16 Montevideo and Punta Del Este Uruguay

The bow of the Mariner tucked under the bow of the Star Princess

The stern of the Empress against our stern (note the climbing wall on top deck)

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Just a small number of the many high rises in Punta Del Este

Famous sculpture of hand rising out of the sand on one of the beaches

After our adventures at Iguazu Falls and our time in Buenos Aires, we were able to sleep in this morning. Since we had been in Montevideo just four days ago we just walked around the old town for a couple of hours.  Our ship is docked between the Star Princess with 2600 passengers and the Empress with1850.  The Mariner is dwarfed by these two floating cities. 
It is hard to believe that we were wearing fleece and jackets just two weeks ago as today it is 90 and humid.
Arriving in Punta Del Este is like being in Southern Florida, there are hundreds of yachts, condos, high rises and luxury homes.  It is on a peninsula with miles of white sand beaches,  many restaurants, bars, and high end stores.  All of the condos and homes for sale are priced in US dollars.    We did not expect to see such an affluent area in South America.
Uruguay has definitely exceeded our expectations.  Friday we arrive in Rio Grande, Brazil, for our first of 22 days in that country.  Goodbye Uruguay!