As far as cities go Montevideo is a bit ruff around the edges. Our opinion wasn’t helped by the fact it was a dull grey day when we arrived. Looking at the tall concreate structures and crumbling old buildings as they faded into the sky felt a tad disappointing.
However, we weren’t here to criticise the architecture, we were here to party. I had read good things about New Year’s Eve in Uruguay’s capital so when we woke up on the last day of 2015, with the sun finally casting its bright glow on the streets, things immediately started to look better.
Suddenly the buildings looked more chic than dilapidated, and the open squares, with people crowded around, seemed to be filled with an exciting energy that was infectious.
It all started at 12pm. Office workers finishing for the day rip up their calendars and planners and throw them out the windows. Paper falls like snow from the tall buildings covering the streets.
Next we headed down to the market square. This area is usually filled with tourists who have just disembarked from the cruise ships and ferry’s which stop at the nearby port but today it was occupied by the locals who stood mingling in groups seemingly waiting for things to kick off.
We began noticing that everyone was drinking out of green plastic cider bottles labelled La Gijonesa. Feeling out of place with our beer we went in search for this drink and found stalls set up around the square selling it by the case load. We stocked up and headed back into the action.
By now it had become clear what the cider was for. A few daring soles had already started the battle by aiming and throwing the cider at anyone and everyone who came near them.
This quickly descended into full out war.
Even the police, riding on their Segways, decided it was time to leave.
No one was safe. It was attack or be attacked. Running through the streets drinking cheap cider and throwing it all over people did bring back some memories from our youth.
Although the difference was that in England if you had thrown your drink over someone you were likely to get a punch in the jaw, here people laughed and chased you with their own loaded bottle.
The atmosphere was amazing.
Bands of drummers came down the streets pumping out beats which people could shake their hips to.
From the high rise buildings people had water guns, balloons and buckets filled to the brim which would be thrown on people when they least expect it.
When things finally began to disperse and the cider began to congeal on our skins we headed back to our hostel to wash the smell of tramps perfume off ourselves.
The next part of the evening was the more familiar barbeque and drinks on the rooftop with our new friends from around the world.
Conversations mixing from Spanish to German to English and plenty of red wine, fire crackers and beer meant this New Year’s Eve was one we wouldn’t forget in a long time.
If 2016 is half as exciting as 2015 we think we are in for a good year.
