It could be worse! I could have snow up to my waist, or icicles the size of stalactites hanging from the roof, or roads made slick from icy rain or, you know the drill…
On the other hand, I could be hiding in the West Indies waiting for the latest killer hurricane to try to blow me away. (It would have to be a darned powerful hurricane to be a little blow me away.)
What you hear is like neither of the above–it is a bit more akin to the Chinese torture known as “death by a thousand cuts”. When I woke up this morning and open the shutters at nine o’clock it was so dark and cloudy all the outside lights were still on. The rain was pouring the wind was blowing–it was generally sell ugly that even the ducks and the seagulls weren’t out.
In all fairness, and we all know how much I hate being fair, the temperature here has been pretty good. Most days it has been in the 50s Fahrenheit (10+ C) and on sunny days is even gone into the 60s (15+ C).
The best thing that can be said about the winter is that it is never boring. If it rains today, it will storm tomorrow, will have near hurricane force winds the day after, and end up with a bright sunny cloudless cool day. Somewhere in that mix of days we will also manage to have fog.
The fog here is amazing! It is so thick even the English are impressed by it. My office window is less than 150 m from the Rio, and on any average foggy day I can’t see the water. The fog is particularly therapeutic if you are a fern or other form of plant life that needs a lot of humidity. If however, you are human, and happen to have any kind of difficulties breathing or with your lungs in general, it’s deadly. I am literally death afraid of going out in the fog. Last winter I made the mistake of venturing out when the temperature was just 1° above freezing and the fog was at its thickest: I walked 10 feet(3 m) from the door of a hotel to a taxi, and by the time I got to the taxi my lungs had stopped working–fortunately an inhaler restarted them. Frankly, because of my health, I plan on spending June and July and August of 2008 in either Brazil or Europe.
If however, you are not transported to death’s door by the humidity, then, the winter isn’t too bad. Despite my generally lousy attitude towards the winter, I must admit that I thoroughly enjoy those sunny and cool days that occur once or twice a week. I guess the best part about having winter here is that it follows autumn and presages spring. After growing up and spending most of my life in season-less Florida, I have come to thoroughly enjoy the changing seasons–even if that means enduring winter.
I guess winter in Uruguay really is relative: if you are comparing it to Moscow, Idaho, Michigan, or Outer Mongolia; it is wonderful! If however you are comparing it to Florida or Southern California, this is a bit more sketchy.
And, if you have the wherewithal and inclination, you can take advantage of the reversed seasons in the southern hemisphere, and spend your southern hemisphere winters by enjoying northern hemisphere summers.
Glad to see you back! I’ve been concerned by your absence. Hope all is well.
As a Chicagoan, there is something to be said for a cold, crisp, clear and sunny Winter’s day. Unfortunately, for every one of them there are numerous cloudy, drizzly, icy, miserable days. Winter in UY sounds like an extended Chicago November.
Left by futurexpat on June 22nd, 2007
I was told that this was the coldest harvest since 30 years!
This ugly reminds me on Hamburg and I can remember well, why I had left.
We are supposed to have an cold ,but dry winter.
For me it is hard to understand, that most of the restaurants
don¨t have any kind of heating.
They say, we are in southamerica- it is imposible that it is cold!!
Or they want to push the cusumation of the brandys.
Left by fatma-and-miguel on June 22nd, 2007
David, you should try Brazil. Something new. Drive there. Smell the roses along the way. Lots and lots of interesting places to stop and look around. If my wife had her way, we’d be in Fortalessa for Jul-Aug. Maybe I’ll give in one day. But there are other great resort areas to winter in. Brazil is big.
Where I come from, everyone with the wherewithall and the time, jumps in their cars and motorhomes in October/November and heads south to Tampa and Fort Lauderdale.
I dont see that kind of exodus from Montevideo to the north of Brazil. Not yet anyway :)
Left by Fish on June 23rd, 2007