Sometimes what isn’t said is just as important as what IS said
The agenda today was stated in a note we received yesterday. We would be pulling into port at 8 am this morning, for a twelve hour stop in the capital city of Uruguay, Montevideo (pronounced by those who should know as Monta-vay-DEE’-ya). The note also stated the entire crew, but not the passengers, would be involved in a life-boat emergency drill at 10:30 for training purposes. No problem, just don’t expect your morning gelato to be delivered on time.
The understated portion of the message however was that the verandas would be cleaned while the ship was in port. That didn’t sound like a big deal at the time, but imagine your surprise as you gaze out this window while you are getting dressed…
and, suddenly a man walks across your balcony! Now seriously, would you have been expecting that?
The afternoon was, after a disappointing lunch, spent on a private tour that had been arranged prior to our departure (thank you Tahni). A gentleman named Shai Abend met us at the head of the pier holding a sign that had our name on it (that is still cool, even if it’s not a first). When we had originally registered for this trip, we had gone through a list of the land excursions that were available at each port and selected outings that piqued our interest without exceeding our physical exertion allowance. But one of the selections was sold out, so it was not available to us. And that one was the tour dealing with the Jewish Heritage of Uruguay. When we saw the cancellation we contacted our travel agent who arranged for a private tour of Montevideo, complete with a young Jewish tour guide who was able to take us places other tours could not.
I could not even begin to tell you the places we went, the history we “learned,” the sites we took in, and the stories we were told, many of them from Shai’s own family experiences and his life. Places like Constitution Square,
the oldest city square in the capital city. The center of town used to sit behind fortressed walls, but when the walls came down they preserved the giant gate as an historical site. It stands to this day in the middle of one of the busiest streets in the historical district.
The park sits between buildings that house the officials of both government and religious entities.
We were also taken to the oceanfront park in which is found the Memorial del Holocausto del Pueblo Judio, dedicated to those who perished in the Holocaust.
It begins with two nearly imperceptible rails, that “begin from nothing and end nowhere, like hate and bigotry.
It then runs along a stone path that leads to an opening between two brick walls that are representative of two hands raised in prayer. As you approach the opening, the sound of heavy traffic nearby disappears and you are left with the sound of the ocean and the peace of nature.
You then come to two wooden bridges which, I believe, were said to represent the travails of life, how you think the path can’t be any worse until you find it is.
Shai talked at length about the acceptance of various religious and cultural beliefs in Uruguay. Unfortunately, even they have seen anti-Semitic acts committed in the last year and a half. He travels once a year to Poland where they have a conference of people that promote peaceful, accepting ways in the modern world. His family lives in Israel and he is very passionate about his work.
We also visited a large open air farmers market that featured one of the largest selections of meat anywhere. He said the Uruguayans are very fond of meat. It would be very difficult to be a vegan in his country.
We visited many locations, but it was easy to detect the site that sat closest to his heart. We got a private tour of a very large, and beautifully ornate, synagogue (seats about 1,000 people) where they are currently raising funds to add a Jewish Heritage Museum.
And when I say a private tour I mean exactly that. When we left, Shai turned out the lights and locked the huge wooden doors containing symbols of the tribes of Israel.
We even got to peak in the back room and see some of the items that will become exhibits in their museum.
He was willing to show us even more, but we became anxious to get back to the ship because, just like in the Navy, “missing ship’s movement” is frowned upon.
After a forgettable dinner, the ship went back out to sea and we went to a presentation of song and dance entitled “Dancing Fool.” Alicia and I traded rolls during the show, with her enjoying the production immensely, and me falling asleep constantly.
Tomorrow is our second, and last, Port of Call in Uruguay, in Punta del Esta, where I will be touring a Historic car museum and Alicia will be sleeping.
that is so cool, and so much heritage and history, I think you got the best tour
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