Campbellgates in Uruguay

 I love House Hunters International. I don't get to indulge as much as I would like to, mostly in hotel rooms when HGTV seems to be the best choice available. I ALWAYS know the house those people should get. It is SO obvious- just choose the one with the pool/view/gardener.  I am now humbly saying to all of those people "I feel your pain." This week has felt like our own painful. enticing and somewhat frustrating HHI Uruguay episode. Now I know why they fuss and fume so much as they decide. Fantasy Fantasy Fantasy Reality We saw 4 apartments on the first Saturday we arrived, and 3 of them had views of the Rambla and the water. One of 10 floors up (not good for M and I's fear of heights), one had furnishings akin to a 1979 Holiday Inn and one was just a bit worn out. One was brand new, Scandinavian and beautiful, and in a boring section of town with a view of the Audi building. We went home a little down about the choices.  But, the realtors, Rob and our colleague Alys...

 Uruguay had an excellent run against COVID last year, but this year has been a different story. Cases and deaths started increasing in January, and hit devastating highs in March and April, as they started the vaccine campaign. As a country, they never "locked down" but instead relied on individual and group responsibility (stay out of groups, wear a mask, wash your hands). Schools closed, but bars and restaurants didn't. Commerce continued- as a country that imports so many products, they had to depend on trade in order to stay afloat. The cases and deaths have been decreasing consistently for the past 2 months, and the country expects to have 70% vaccinated in 11 days, using mostly Sinovac but also a recent shipment of Pfizer from the US in the past couple of weeks. We were hoping we wouldn't need to quarantine (negative pre flight PCR test + vaccine documentation...) but just before we arrived, a group of young people returned from the US and while they tested neg...

 We made it! We left my parent's house at 11:30am on Monday, July 12, and we landed in Montevideo at 12am local time (which is 8pm PST). So, 32.5 hours later, we arrived. Every step was surprisingly easy. I was worried that Pangborn Airport would be overwhelmed with our bags, all 14, but they were excited to help me tag and get them all sorted out. They didn't seem surprised that we were taking 3 bikes with us! Whew! A short layover (and no lounge access, boo) in Seattle, then to LA where we had a 7 hour layover. I don't recommend this. But the lounge was generous, and let us stay even without boarding passes (which we couldn't get because of 7 hour layover..) because the sweet young woman manning the desk mainly felt sorry for us. Rob and Marieka were able to sleep relatively well on the airport floor, me, well, not so much but it was helpful to have Mei Mei snuggling in between Marieka and I. I don't wish airport sleep on anyone. Only makes you love Incheon in Seo...