Near Colonia del Sacramento, the Monkey visited the Plaza de Toros, or bullring, at Real de San Carlos. The bullring was part of a touristic development spearheaded by the Dalmatian-born Argentine Nicolas Mihanovich, who was backed by several Argentine investors seeking to cash in on Uruguay's then-permissive gambling laws. The development also included a hippodrome (still in use), beaches, and plans for a hotel-casino. The latter was never built and the entire project suffered when the Argentine government caught on to the scheme in 1917 and imposed a tax on boats making for the facility.
The Moor-inspired Plaza de Toros was built from 1909 to 1910 and hosted a total of 8 corridas (bullfights) before the Uruguayan government (thankfully) banned bullfighting in 1912. The bullring fell into disuse thereafter, but it certainly makes for an interesting place to visit (although one has to be aware of the possibility of falling concrete!).
El Mono samples the local lager, Pilsen, while clutching a colorful five peso bill.
The Monkey looks at some old warehouses by the river's edge in Colonia. All things considered, he thought it would make a rather pleasant spot for a café.
An hour before his departure from Uruguay, the Monkey took a moment to inspect the rusting iron structure of the abandoned bullring at Real de San Carlos, just outside Colonia del Sacramento.
El Mono is an unabashed amigo of tiny Uruguay and he is sure to return again soon. Hasta entonces, uruguayos!
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