The Coastal Towns of Uruguay

La Mano, Los Dedos, Punta del Este, Uruguay

La Mano or Los Dedos, Punta del Este

There’s a reason why Punta del Este and its neighboring towns are the favorite vacation spots of Argentinians, Brazilians and North Americans. The wild coastline, quiet beaches, rustic towns, art museums and galleries and local cuisine are just some of the draws to this part of Uruguay. It’s time to visit this bewitching corner of the South American continent.

La Mano or Los Dedos (The Hand or The Fingers) has become the iconic symbol of Punta del Este. Sculpted in 1982 by Chilean artist, Mario Irarrazabal, the partially submerged fingers are a warning to visitors of the rough waters of Brava Beach on which it is situated.

Abandoned hotel on Highway 10 in Santa Monica

Driving along the coastal road from Punta del Este is a pleasurable experience. As you get farther away, there are less houses and the towns are far apart. It seems a world away.

Faro (lighthouse) de Jose Ignacio

The lighthouse was constructed in 1877 and stands at 25 meters (82 ft.). Its light spans a distance of 12.7 nautical miles. The reefs in this area are dangerous.

Playa Brava beach around the lighthouse

The beach around the lighthouse

Playa Brava in front of Parador La Huella

Parilla cooking at Parador La Huella

This is the traditional way of cooking meats in Uruguay - on a large, open pit grill.

Museum of Contemporary Art Atchugarry in Manantiales

From Highway 10 in the direction of Jose Ignacio, turn left on Highway 104 to get to the park. This is a great place for everyone to enjoy art and the outdoors. Entrance is free. Check out my separate article about the MACA which will posted soon.

Casapueblo in Punta Ballena

Please read my separate article about the enchanting Casapueblo here: https://www.travelswithcharie.com/2024/01/casapueblo-and-carlos-paez-vilaro.html

Where to stay in Punta del Este:

2122 Hotel Art Design

Pedragosa Sierra and San Ciro

https://www.hotel2122.com/2122/es/

This was a good choice. I liked the homey feel of the room which has a kitchenette and a sofa, convenient if you expect guests. It has its own restaurant/bar on the premises where breakfast is served. My room reservation included free breakfast. It is located close to a supermarket and restaurants. It is within walking distance to the beach.

Where to eat in San Ignacio

Parador La Huella, Playa Brava, Faro Jose Ignacio

Reservations required at this popular restaurant. https://paradorlahuella.com/

How to get to Punta del Este:

Renting a car would be the best way to explore the Atlantic coast of Uruguay. But you can also take the bus to Maldonado or Punta del Este from the main bus terminal in Montevideo. It takes about 2 1/2 hours in a clean, modern and comfortable bus to reach Punta del Este and costs around USD$10.00 one way (in November 2023). I was impressed by how easy it was to take the bus. There are several bus companies at the terminal where you can purchase your ticket. Buses leave every 30 minutes or so. The bus conductor will inform you of your stop if you ask him. This is also the way to get to Colonia del Sacramento, the well preserved historic town in southwest Uruguay. The bus station in Punta del Este is across the beach from the famous sculpture, La Mano, is located.

How to get to Jose Ignacio from Punta del Este:

By bus from Maldonado or Punta del Este to Jose Ignacio, check details here: rome2rio.com.

By Uber: I had the chance to take Uber in Punta del Este and this could be an option if you don’t have a car. However, Jose Ignacio is approximately 35 minutes away from Punta del Este and this could be an expensive alternative.

*****

Images by TravelswithCharie

Filipino Struggles in History - Carlos Botong Francisco

In 1968, Antonio Villegas (then Mayor of Manila), commissioned Carlos "Botong" Francisco to paint the history of Manila for Manila City Hall. The series of large scale paintings was called Kasaysayan ng Maynila (History of Manila). The paintings deteriorated over time and no attempt was made to preserve these historical canvases until 2013 when Mayor Amado Lim sent them to the National Museum for extensive restoration. Four years later, in 2017, Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada and the Manila City Council signed an agreement with the National Museum to leave the paintings at the museum so they may reach a larger audience in exchange for museum grade reproductions to replace the originals. Kasaysayan ng Maynila was later renamed Filipino Struggles in History and is now on display at the Senate Hall of the National Museum . Carlos "Botong" Francisco died in March 1969, a few months after completing the paintings. He is one of the first Filipino modernists and

The Art of Carlos Botong Francisco - Progress of Medicine in the Philippines

Pre-colonial period Pag-unlad ng Panggagamot sa Pilipinas (The Progress of Medicine in the Philippines) is a group of four large-scale paintings depicting healing practices in the Philippines from pre-colonial times to the modern period. Carlos Botong Francisco was commissioned in 1953 by Dr. Agerico Sison who was then the director of Philippine General Hospital (PGH) together with Dr. Eduardo Quisumbing of the National Museum, Dr. Florentino Herrera, Jr. and Dr. Constantino Manahan. These oil on canvas paintings measure 2.92 meters in height and 2.76 meters in width (9.71 ft x 8.92 ft) and were displayed at the main entrance hall of PGH for over five decades. Owing to its location, the artworks were in a state of "severe deterioration" at the beginning of the 21st century from exposure to heat, humidity, dirt, dust, smoke, insect stains, grime, termites and an oxidized synthetic resin used in an earlier restoration. These canvases were restored three times, the last was

8 Heritage Houses of Iloilo

Lizares Mansion The province of Iloilo on the island of Panay has a rich trove of heritage houses, left over from the sugar industry boom in the 19th century. Iloilo also had the largest port in the Philippines at that time which facilitated the export of sugar to foreign shores and deposited money in the hands of the sugar barons. The barons dropped their earnings into the acquisition of properties in Negros and the construction of beautiful homes in Iloilo, many of which are located in the vicinity of the Jaro Cathedral. The Lizares Mansion was built in 1937 by Don Emiliano Lizares for his wife, Concepcion Gamboa and five children. The family fled to safety when World War II broke out and the house was occupied by the Japanese military. The family returned to the house after the war but left once again after the demise of Don Emiliano. It was sold to the Dominican order in the 1960s and was converted in 1978 to a private school, Angelicum School. The mansion now houses the

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