Day 16 in Montevideo: Permanent Souvenirs

Aloha, Uruguay!

This morning, after a quick breakfast, we tackled the inevitable task of packing our suitcases, a bittersweet reminder that our incredible journey here is coming to an end. Then, with a shared desire to make a permanent mark of our time in Uruguay, we set off to get tattoos. In a slightly comical turn of events, our group of five ended up at different locations after taking separate Ubers. However, as fate would have it, we spotted each other while wandering around, all heading in the same general direction, and eventually converged at the tattoo shop.

We all agreed on a design: the Uruguayan sun, a perfect symbol of this vibrant country. Our tattoo artist was incredibly kind and welcoming. She already had the sun printed on transfer paper in various sizes, making the decision process easy. Some of us opted for the larger version, which was still quite modest in size. I chose to get mine just below my right forearm, a new addition opposite the silver fern tattoo I got in New Zealand. It's starting to become a tradition for me to get a tattoo in every country I visit as a personal remembrance. The time flew by, even with all five of us getting inked. When it was all done, we left feeling happy and satisfied, each of us now carrying a piece of Uruguay with us.

The afternoon was dedicated to more cultural sightseeing. We visited several historical sites, soaking in the rich history of Montevideo, and, of course, we took a group picture at the iconic Montevideo sign. Our bus tour concluded with one last stop at a market, giving us a final opportunity to pick up any last-minute souvenirs, local foods, or drinks before heading back to the hotel for more packing.

For our final dinner in Uruguay, some of us returned to La Otra, where we indulged in delicious asado and wine. It was truly special to be surrounded by everyone who started as strangers but are now leaving as family.

Remember my first blog post? I wrote down three things I wanted to while in Uruguay:

• Learn Spanish.

• Try chivito, the national dish.

• Experience mate, the traditional drink

I'm happy to say that I did all three!

What a remarkable journey it has been!