Apartment

Renting an apartment with only pictures and descriptions that is fully furnished with few hassles (hooking up electricity, water or deposits) for only a few months was difficult.  The choices were whittled down quickly.  The building I live in is host to students, construction workers, a graffiti shop owner, secretaries, people of unknown employment and an occasional visitor for a week or longer.  The common area of the building is a great place chat, everything from classic Malthus and Marx evaluations of society to health care to proper gnocchi formation.

A German women who had ridden her bike from northern Africa to southern over the course of 4 months was finishing her trip around the world in Montevideo.  A couple from England and Australia starting a new adventure in Montevideo for a few years had been teaching throughout Asia for the last few years.  The travelers stories are inspiring but I also enjoy the day to day chat and shared routine with working folks.  

 

The mix of backgrounds often erupts in heated discussion but that is the culture, it works.  The building is owned by an Italian singer currently touring in Argentina.  He bought the building and completely remodeled it.  Some of the details, wood and marble stair cases were preserved while brick walls have been covered with plaster hiding new electrical and plumbing.  A large central opening with skylights keeps the common area feeling light.  The neighborhood is another story.