Two days in Punta Del Este

One thing Antarctica lacks is golden sandy beaches, but luckily there’s an abundance only two hours from Monte Video. Punta Del Este is a purpose built resort aimed at wealthy holiday makers from Uruguay and Argentina. The main season had yet to start, so when Rob, Andy and I arrived there was something of a ghost-town feel to the place. Not put off, we booked into a cheap but immaculate hotel and spent two days acting like we were on a gap-year. I was hoping to get a final surf, but a strong on-shore blew out a promising looking right. Instead we borrowed old Schwin cruiser bikes and explored the peninsular, getting completely and utterly lost among enormous houses of the Uruguay’s rich and famous. Click for photos.

Returning to Monte, it was like boarding a different ship. 30 more Fids had come aboard and all bar four of the crew had changed. Sailing to the Falklands will be a whole new experience.