15.12.2013 Bulletin

by Marita
(Montevideo, Uruguay)

Consider:

"Lotteries are a tax on people who are bad at math"

Anonymous

Dear Folks,

It's time for the singing of traditional Christmas songs, and they are everywhere now--even in the supermarket in 85 degree heat! (For a modernization of one of the classics, check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq7dD8pPNvw). And now the terrace at La Papoñita is open, where we meet every Sunday at 14:00 (2 pm). Do come by and join us.

And, items of note today include:

1. The Uruguayan senate followed the house lead and voted to legalize marijuana.

http://en.mercopress.com/2013/12/11/uruguay-becomes-first-country-to-oversee-production-and-sale-of-marijuana

But it didn't take long for the drug warriors to complain that legalizing marijuana violates a international convention on drug control.

http://en.mercopress.com/2013/12/11/first-obstacle-for-uruguay-s-marijuana-bill-it-violates-international-convention-on-drug-control

2. Seeking a rental--A woman will be in Montevideo and wants help to

"find a nice small department (one room, small kitchen and bath would be fine) for the 4 weeks I will spend in Montevideo.

My preference should be in Ciudad Vieja as I need to stay in the center, but if the price is interesting also Pocitos or another Area where an European woman alone can stay without troubles. You know. ;-)

My budget should be € 500 max, all included, also air conditioning and wifi. Please let me know what you can find in this range.
Give me also higher proposals if any as maybe I will share with a friend for 2 weeks. I will need the weeks 3-4-5-6 of next year, starting from Tuesday the 7th."

Does anyone have anything suitable, or know of something that may be available? Let me know asap, since she will be here soon.


3. Cultural events:

a) Ballet at the Sodre--Hamlet Ruso, by the Boris Eifman Ballet of the St. Petersburg, on Tuesday, December 17th at 20:00 (8 pm). Tickets cost $120 (pesos) for the seats in the upper balcony. Please let me know by tomorrow, Friday, noon if you want to join our group, and I'll get the tickets.

b) Falstaff: On Monday, December 16th, at 19:00 (7 pm): The 1943 film by Orson Wells has been completely restored and is being shown for the first time in Uruguay at the Sodre in the hall of the Auditorium. It is in English, with Spanish subtitles. Admission is free, but there is limited capacity.

4. Household repairs, painting and such like--Horatio, an Argentine man is coming to Montevideo for a month, and is seeking jobs. Grisel describes him as responsible, correct, and he cleans up afterwards. He speaks some English (he did such work in the USA for a time), so if you have any such tasks, let me know and I will have him get in touch with you.

5. Learning Spanish is not enough--we need to learn Rioplatense, or Uruguayan Spanish. There is a fine, academic volume with an impressive price that helps with that. But there is also a little Diccionario Uruguayo de la Lengua Española para Escolares y Liceales (Ediciones Cruz de Sur). It has the advantage that it is really quite simple, suitable for learners, but also indicates words that are specific to or which have special meanings in Uruguayan Spanish. Example: Cinco is defined as cuatro y uno.... And the price, at $120, is super.