Uruguay V France, Montevideo

Uruguay V France

Friendly International

Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay

5 June 2013

Tickets for this friendly between Uruguay and France were readily available from all Abitab outlets (a bit like a post office). 

 Day 1/2 - Colonia. We found an Abitab on the high street in Colonia, no hassle! This proved really useful to us because we were on a tight schedule since arriving on the Buquebus ferry from Buenos Aires to Colonia the previous afternoon. 

Colonia is really beautiful and the best view point is from the top of the lighthouse (El Faro) seen just in front of the ruins of the Convent of San Francisco. Curiously the lighthouse was built from stones taken from the ruins

Old churches and cobbles everywhere in the historic quarter, probably influenced by previous colonial rulers as it exchanged hands many times, including with Spain, Portugal and Britain before finding independence and becoming part of Uruguay in 1828

Colonia's 1920's cars are a great feature of the town.

The Basilica of the Sacred Sacrament is the only church within the city walls and is the oldest church in Uruguay

So peaceful

Sunset over Colonia del Sacremento

On day 3 we took the 2 hour bus journey to Montevideo from Colonia and booked into our city centre hotel, 'the Balmoral Plaza Hotel' located  in Plaza Cagancha . We then walked to the ground for a 1600 Hrs kick off.

The view of Plaza Cagancha from our 8th floor room.

After booking in at the hotel we were a little taken back, as the reception staff kept on telling us how unsafe their city was. We were informed not to go to the Mercado del Puerto after dark, so we booked up for the 'safer option' of an all inclusive option at a Milongas to catch a tango show.

The El Gauch monument, a national symbol at the west entrance to the central barrio of Cordon.

The Treinta Y Tres Orientales monument is dedicated to the (33) 19th Century heroes known as the 33 Orientales who established the independence of Uruguay. In 1825 they began a campaign to recapture the Oriental Province from the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves.  

A Fountain on the Av 18 de Julio, the equestrian statue is the revolutionary Juan Antonio Lavalleja.

The Obelisk of Montevideo is a 3 sided sculpture made of granite, 40m tall with 3 bronze statues on its sides (Law, Liberty and Force) and is the entrance to Parque Battle.

In any case we had a football match to go to first, so we strode out of the hotel and headed up Avenue 18th de Julio towards Parque Battle and the Centenario. We stopped off at a fast food caravan and indulged in a gorgeous spicy sausage bap.

 

Estadio Centenario is located within the Parque Battle, Montevideo. It was state of the art stadium when it was built for the FIFA World Cup in 1930 in 1929. The name 'Centenario' refers to the centenary of the formation of the State of Uruguay in 1829. 

After negotiating some tricky road crossings we eventually made it to the Centenario, home of Uruguayan football and the venue for the first ever FIFA world cup held in 1930.

Outside of Tribuna Colombes.

A Uruguayan football 'tatt shop' outside Tribuna Olimpica selling memorabilia from Penarol, Nacional 

and the the national team. 

The 100m Tower houses the 'Museum of Football' which pays tribute to the Inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930 but sadly for our visit it was closed.

Behind the Tribuna Olimpica there is a sign that proudly displays the FIFA world cup motif from the first ever competition in 1930.

Suarez scores - Uruguay 1 France 0

After plonking our backsides down in Tribuna America we soaked in the sights. Tribuna Colombes 

is to the left of the picture.

For this game I decided to go deep under cover 

The main stand in Tribuna America is filling up nicely. In fact they ran out of seats, so many fans ended up in the aisles and the concourse. Not bad for a friendly against a dull team like France.

Sue decided to take my lead in supporting the home team and oh how we roared when Luis Suarez came on.

Enter the bongo drums.

The national anthems.

The tower opposite in the Tribuna Olimpica is also home to the museum of Uruguayan football. 

Half time and Uruguay are on top of the French,but  just can't score. It must be 'Suarez time'.

Get your sun flower seeds here

Luis Suarez puts Uruguay 1:0 up with a great goal and the sunset celebrates in brilliant pinks and blues. Sue and I go mental along with thousands of other passionate Uruguay supporters.

On the walk back from the Centenario we pass the famous "La Carreta" depicting yoked oxen pulling a loaded cart.

After the match we quickly change, and head out downtown to a Milongas to enjoy a raunchy tango show.

Land ahoy! The Buquebus has just about crossed the River plate from Montevideo and the bright lights of Buenos Aires now await. What an adventure this South American tour is