Have spent the last few days in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. The city is divided in two with many of the older buildings preserved in the Cuidad Veija (not sure bout spelling) or old town where I am staying, and the more modern Microcentre as it is known. Many of the buildings around the old quarter are used as squats by victims of rural poverty and for the first time on my trip I have been regularly pestered by beggars. Some of these squats are magnificent builddings and it is odd to see them in their current, filthy state.

Overall the city is very 'nice', there just isn't that much to do here..... I'm looking forward to heading to Colonia Del Sacramento tomorrow which is supposed to be even more picturesque.

I find myself poring over the Patagonia section in my guidebook and longing for the Merino Glacier, whale watching at Peurto Madryn and Ushuaia the most southerly city in the world. I think that if funds allow I will be spending much longer in Argentina than originally planned. What with the addition of Bolivia and Ecuador to my itinery I hope noone is hoping to see me any time soon!