So, we are halfway through the summer, and I still haven´t been able to take a proper vacation, but I have just spent a couple of weeks with a few interruptions at my family´s summer house in Las Toscas Honestly, I used to spend only a few weekends there every summer, but this year I came to really enjoy the peace and quiet there. I read three books, Freedom by Franzen, The information by Martin Amis and Ishiguro´s Orphans, and only the latter was a disappointment.
For anyone wishing to disconnect and have some true peace and quiet, I heartily recommend this place. It´s only ´45 minutes from downtown Montevideo, and the only thing it´s missing is exciting nightlife. Fortunately, when you get too restless, you can always check out Terrazas de la barca, a beach bar with the best location ever in neighboring Atlantida. I strongly recommend the rabas (fried calamari) and the clerico and lemon daiquiris, as well as the picada clasica (simple local appetizers). The beauty of this spot is best appreciated at sunset, which is around 9 PM these days.
In downtown Las Toscas, which is like two blocks and 5 shops, we just tried a new Mexican restaurant not very originally called El Mexicano. Run by an authentic Mexican and his family, the place offers a wide variety of Mexican dishes. The chicken vampiras were a fabulous surprise to me and the quesadillas were not bad at all, but you should stay clear of the nachos altogether. The friendly owner makes up for the absence of tequila and the strange stuff they put on those nachos.
The best discovery of my sejour at Urugay´s golden coast was however not consumed at any bar or restaurant. One rainy afternoon, I opened a bottle of Chilean Cabernet and I had an idea that it would taste great mixed with tonic water. The result was a Campari-like drink that was tremendously successful with friends and family, plus it has the advantage of being very low on alcohol, as the ratio of wine-tonic water is about 3 to 1. Best served with a slice of lemon and on the rocks.
Finally, the best food I tried this summer was my brother´s Calzone, but I´m afraid he is not planning to sell that to the public as yet. If you really love calzone and you are in the Parque del Plata- Las Toscas or Atlantida area, you should try Bar Carlitos on the main street in Parque del Plata. My brother´s is way better, I´m afraid. If you go to Carlitos, stick to the calzone, pizza and milanesas, anything outside of these simple dishes will be far too adventurous, and you shall regret it.
For drinks at the beach, I recommend F Street beach in Parque del Plata, the guys at that little hut down on the sand really know their fruit, and they have some friends who will show up to play some candombe drums at sunset on occasion.
