Chapter XIII: Montevideo 161

The surroundings of the capital--Pleasant resorts--The
Prado--A well-endowed park--Colón--Aspects of the
suburbs--Some charming _quintas_--A wealth of flowers
and vegetation--European and tropical blossoms side by
side--Orchards and their fruits--The cottages of the
peasants--An itinerant merchant--School-children--Methods
of education in Uruguay--The choice of a career--
Equestrian pupils--The tramway route--Aspects of the
village of Colón--Imposing eucalyptus avenues--A country
of blue-gum--Some characteristics of the place--Flowers
and trees--Country houses--The Tea Garden Restaurant--
Meals amidst pleasant surroundings--An enterprising
establishment--Lunch and its reward--Poçitos and Ramirez--
Bathing places of the Atlantic--Blue waters compared with
yellow--Sand and rock--Villa del Cerro--The steam ferry
across the bay--A town of mixed buildings--Dwelling-places
and their materials--The ubiquitous football--Aspects of
the Cerro--Turf and rock--A picturesque fort--Panorama
from the summit of the hill--The guardian of the river
mouth--The last and the first of the mountains.