I got an advice by ly the local Stones fan Varilla to stay by the beach area Carrasco, which is half an hour by taxi outside the downtown Montevideo area. That was a great advice. As soon as I settled in to the Hotell Cottagge I knew this was a place for relaxing and resting. The nearby bar and restaurant area was perfect, with some great outdoor dining.
I have stayed in hundreds of hotels around the world. Most of them I would never return to. However, Hotel Cottagge was so great, modern, still relaxing, super service, friendly, great location and area. Such a great prrof that local knowledge is valuable in finding a great place to stay. I did have three different hotels booked in Montevideo, and cancelled the two other downtown hotels a week ago.
The nine days in Buenos Aires going up and down to La Plata three times, and other night life activities, going to bed 3am or 4am, and then up by 7am to 9am, was stressful. Also, I arrived into Uruguay quite dehydrated. Now I spent my three days in Uruguay completely low key, working, eating a lot, drinking a lot, and for the first time since Chile, running.
I was running around 7pm as the sun was low. As I was passing by the hotel 5 minutes away, the closest one, I noticed a bunch of people waiting outside. The hotel was barricated, like a fortress, and there was press. I went back for my camera, and made a picture; the first time I have brough a camera for my one hour running trip… The Rolling Stones had arrived a couple of hours earlier from Buenos Aires.
On show day I was completely relaxed, took a taxi at 1:30pm into the town, and did a quick look for postcards and stamps. Nowhere to be found! I had to move on to the venue, so my postcards had to be found at the airport next morning. The show will have a separate entry here…
