When I got back to the room I found an envelope had been pushed under the door by unseen hand, on it written 'Senor Parker', and inside I found an invitation to a party that evening in the lobby bar so I dug my best shirt and trousers, so far unused on the trip, from the pits of my bag and with limited success I ironed out the creases with my hands.
The English language isn't widespread in South America but I had a funny meeting with four young girls who studied her majesty's lingo at school and they giggled their way through the 'where are you froms' and so forth, crammed into the lift on the way down, juddering to a stop and the polite young ladies flew out, giggling into the hubbub, and I became engaged in conversation with the staff of a Colonia bank and they told me that most people there were business leaders within the region, engaged in agriculture - tanned and fit and very wealthy gentlemen farmers from the Estancias (ranches) celebrating the Hotel Royal's 25th birthday. Money befriending more money made for an atmosphere that was laid back and amiable with an unlimited supply of food and booze and ...
Unsurprisingly on the final day in Uruguay it poured with rain and I had to step carefully over the wild yet friendly dogs sprawled in the hotel entrance while the town diligently went about its business under umbrellas. I caught the 16.15 boat back across 50km of water to Buenos Aires, making the circle of this trip complete, and as I made my way down to the port I saw this graffiti (photo below) and thought, Well that's one way of putting it, but hey, try and be more positive man. Think Buddha you know ... or maybe the artist had drunk one of those cocktails, but at least the moon is happy.