Day 12 Farewell, Rivera: A Stop in Tacuarembo, and the Biggest Chivito Ever!

Early morning stroll, on horses of course!

It's my last day here in Rivera, and it's bittersweet. This morning, I'm packing up and hopping in the van for the long haul back to Montevideo, where I'll meet up with the rest of the Fulbright crew. It's an eight-plus-hour journey, departing at 8:30 AM with an estimated 7:00 PM arrival in Montevideo.

The weather gods were smiling on us this morning; the clouds finally cleared, and we were greeted with a beautiful, sunny day. It was the perfect send-off from Rivera.

Our first major stop was in Tacuarembo, Maite's hometown! It was great to see where she grew up. On a map, the city is heart-shaped. So fitting for a place that feels like home. We made a special detour to the IPORA balneario, which was fascinating. It's an entirely artificial lake, a true testament to human ingenuity. Surrounded by parklands and forests, this whole recreational area was created within the last 40-80 years by Felipe Alboronoz for the city of Tacuarembo. As we strolled the entire length of the lake, we even saw some gauchos on horses trotting by, a quintessential Uruguayan sight. It was such a peaceful and serene way to start our long travel day.

After our leisurely walk, it was back into the van. We drove some more, I definitely caught up on some sleep, and I watched the countryside slowly transform as we headed south. The landscape began to feature huge, giant windmills dotting the horizon, a clear sign of the country's move towards renewable energy.

Of course, a long road trip wouldn't be complete without a good meal! We stopped for lunch and ordered a chivito, Uruguay's famous sandwich. Let me tell you, it was one of the biggest chivitos I've ever seen.

I couldn't even finish it! Definitely fueled us up for the rest of the journey.

We made several more stops after lunch for snacks and much-needed bathroom breaks, finally rolling into Montevideo just in time for dinner. It was a long day, no doubt about it, but filled with incredible sights and experiences. All the travel time just made me reflect on my experiences in Rivera: the host teachers that became instant family and the students we met and got to interact with. You really get a sense of what the education landscape looks like in the rural and suburban schools. I came to appreciate the dedication and resourcefulness of the educators, the vibrant spirit of the students, and the strong sense of community that underpins it all. Our week in Rivera was an experience I will never forget.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/76c589_796d64bfe5d64bf9ba15dd8d8e2633e4/1080p/mp4/file.mp4