Uruguayan Chivito Sandwiches Are Overated but Uruguay Is Underated

Upon arrival in Montevideo, Uruguay, we at lunch a restaurant Alex raved about.

The restaurant’s specialty were their Chivito sandwiches. Chivito’s are also arguably the country’s most famous dish.  The consistent elements are a bun or sandwich roll, steak, mozzarella cheese, egg (fried or hard-boiled), and mayonnaise. Uruguay, like its neighbor Argentina, is famous for its beef, so chivitos always contain sliced, grilled steak.

We ordered Uruguay’s famous sandwich; the Chivito. Bread, thinly sliced and fried beef, lettuce, and tomato. Who would have thought?!?!?

The restaurant was located a block away from our hostel, El Viajero. I would say that hostel’s are an important part of how much a traveler will enjoy a city. El Viajero was pretty good in that regard. The hostel is located in Montevideo’s historical and most famous square, Plaza Constitución, facing the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Cabildo, the colonial City Hall. Not bad for around US$10 a night.

Being in a great location we took that opportunity to go walk. We walked for a long time admiring the city’s coastline and the obligatory old men fishing.

And like many South American cities near an ocean or river there are old cannons for protection. Nowadays they make for great photo ops.

Back near the histel’s plaza is a great pedestrian only street. I am now convinced that every city should have one.

Just as every city needs street vendors. I always enjoy comparing the items sold by vendors in different cities or countries. Bolivia probably has the most bizarre selling llama fetuses for a buck.

These bears are following us. First in Buenos Aires and now in Montevideo. I later found out these Buddy Bears are doing a world tour. A waste of money if you ask me. But then I have to take into consideration that art is not really high on my list of interests.

We saw one interesting building in the skyline and wanted to see what it was all about. After sneaking inside and taking the elevator up to top we realized it was a private apartment building. Also the tallest building in Montevideo and maybe Uruguay. With a height of 26 stories, Palacio Salvo once used to be the highest building in South America. It was built between 1922 and 1928 by the Italian architect Mario Palanti in an Art Deco-style. It is no palace at all, just a building with various shops, bureaus and apartments.

The obligatory view from the top.

I do not smoke but Alex does. Like Brazil, the cigarette companies are forced to include disgusting photos on the packages.

Even better, Dorito bags give out dating advice. I learned to wait 2 days before calling a girl for a date. Thanks Doritos!

We did make it a point to relax the next day.

Back in the hostel people were learning tango from one of the front desk guys.

That traveler would soon find out that people don’t dance tango in the clubs! As a side note, the girls of Montevideo are just as attractive as in Buenos Aires but fortunately do act like normal people. It was a nice change being able to approach an attractive stranger without a hand in my face before I can utter a word, which is often what happens in Buenos Aires.

Now it was Sunday. Sunday is flea market day in Montevideo. They call this one La Feria de Tristan Narvaja. This market goes on forever and you can find antiques, old records (fro
m Gardel to Beatles), old books, pets, plants, sunglasses, clothes, or even false teeth! I bought a few old license plates saying Montevideo. They should make nice apartment decorations.

Those were the highlights of Montevideo, Uruguay.