Knowing the day was coming, I watched for the program vigilantly. But like many things in laisser-faire Uruguay, the official website had a link to 2024's program until just about a week ago when the new list was finally released—a PDF without the ability to filter or sort but at least this year they included page breaks between neighborhoods.
This year's theme was the country's bicentennial which meant most anything and everything qualified to be part of the Heritage Weekend.
I scanned the pages and made a list of my top sites. I shared it with friends, added a few sites and made a game plan for the weekend. Saturday was a lovely spring day with sun and fresh air. The city felt so alive (Día del Patrimonio is one of the most popular events here, especially with good weather)! Sunday however fell prey to Uruguayan's worst nightmare... rain...
Day 1
Austin and I completed about 21,000 steps, starting the morning at ambassadors' homes on one end of town and ending the day with a rooftop party at the tip of Ciudad Vieja and many stops along the way.
Started at the Spanish Ambassador's Residence
I see Poseidon holding up mustache marionettes...
The British ambassador's residence only permitted photos in the garden
But what a great garden it is, and good use of wine bottles!
Featuring my favorite cars...
Although the leg room leaves a lot to be desired
House > surveillance & torture building during the dictatorship > Institute of Human Rights
Original plan of the house
Architectural intervention (purifying the house?)
Watching
The supreme court (just walking by this year)
Franca: becoming a DdP tradition
Museo Subte dimmed to showcase AI art
Watching the watcher
Archivo General de la Nación
French Embassy
Going up!
Recently restored ornamentation above the grand staircase of the French Embassy
Painstaking detail!
Skylight: color and decoration
Skylight: function and utility
A look at the pre-restoration state of the building
Lions and Lions and Lions, oh my
The most people we've ever seen in Plaza Independencia
Traditions from the interior
Unfortunately entry to Palacio Salvo was already booked for the day
Old buses
Young passengers
Catedral Metropolitana de Montevideo & Consulado Turquía
Also the busiest we've ever seen the pedestrian street
Rooftop of the Mercado del Puerto with the Navy yard in the distance
Sunset party to end Day 1
Fin
Day 2
The best made plans are no match for the Uruguayan's hatred of rain... We woke up to a storm but by 11:00 it had passed and I had hope for the day. But as clouds rolled back in, two of the sites on my list were closed, and without public notice or alert (as if we should just know that rain=closure). But I still managed to check some things off the list and enjoy a day of exploration.
Built as a hotel, this beach front edifice now hosts MERCOSUR and other international organizations
While many details were stripped during a period of abandonment, the tile floor fortunately remains
Ceiling detail with impressive integration of AC into the cornets
Modern back entrance added when the building was retrofit
Modern ceiling detail of the hotel's former dining room
Art Nouveau mirror details with a reflection of the Rambla and river beyond
Central garden at the Facultad de Arquitectura, Diseño y Urbanismo
Nature and architecture at play
Heavy drafting tables, heavier ideas
Such comfortable chairs for future architects...
Homage to one of Uruguay's most famous artists
The presidential house was closed so here's a photo of its neighbor...
Sociedad De Islas Canarias showcasing Canary Island influence on Uruguayan Culture
Nature finds a way
Former building at Hospital Vilardebó, the original mental hospital of Montevideo
Art made from reused materials by the present day patients
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