It will take a boat and two bus to bring us from Buenos Aires to Punta del Este in Uruguay, in about 12h. Below, at around 2am, after the first boat, waiting for the first bus. Youri was hiding. His unmistakable slavic face brought the attention of another slave fellow who tried to intimidate him. All ended well as the bully left on a girl bike.

More indications about where Punta del Este is.

Every year, between the 20th of December and the 15th of January, Punta del Este gets full of mostly Argentinians, Brazilians and Chileans vacationers. However, it is not for anybody. It’s for anybody who is somebody. This is where the likes of Gisele, Adriana and their model friends dance on the beach around christmas time. A heaven for the wealthy and/or beautiful, which somehow reminded me of Boris Vian’s Et on tuera tous les affreux (however, unlike in the book, there is no premium for being ugly…).

It is hard not to appreciate what Punta has to offer…

Besides dreamy creatures you have plain ugly creatures (remember : no premium).

On the beach, we meet Catalina, who was raised in France and has been living in Argentina for the last five years, and her two friends from Cordobá. The guy in his mid-forties next to Wale was also francophile. After the resolutely exclusively hispanophile Argentina we have been experiencing these last three weeks, it is rather unsettling to meet so many francophiles Argentinians.

As could be expected, it did not take Catalina and her friends long to figure out how cool we were. They invited us for dinner.

One looks obviously more happy than the other. Hint : his name starts with a ”y”.

This picture is very characteristic of Wale. He tries new things all the time. Below, he entirely buttoned his shirt up, which gave him a cowboy look. Youri inserted his t-shirt into his belted jeans, which gave him a moron look.

Punta has its own codes. All the teenagers congregate at the…gas station. Listening to loud electro music and drinking cokes is all they (can) do.

Our last night, we go to Blue, a partly-outdoor club with a view on the beach. Nobody in the club before 2am, many hasta 8am (see below).

Killing the nights in clubs has its (photographic) advantages.

This night, it happens twice to Wale – but he tells me that it is quite common for him. A girl comes to him and asks to dance with him. ”Is it cuz I is black?” Probably.

More sunrises.

Our last beach in Punta. It is more family oriented. And mamma mia how pretty the mums are !

Big Miami-like mansions.

This guy could well have been me. Ever since I have been travelling with Wale and Youri (and even before), I have been carrying a big black corpse bag on my shoulder, instead of the traditional backpack most travelers like us use. On the bright side, I do not have to work out.

Before leaving the hostel. Marianne a charming Chilean working there. And I thought French girls had tight pants…

You can also check Youri’s post about our Punta endeavor.