Time and its warping – Montevideo

ferry
Seacat from Argentina to Uruguay

Salvador Dali cracked it with his images of time melting and warping. I should have known to be on the alert when I noted my Airbnb hostess wearing a Dali melted-clock brooch.

The issue started when I arrived by ferry from Buenos Aires (Argentina) to Colonia (Uruguay). In the bus from Colonia to Montevideo I noticed that my phone had changed its time to be an hour later. ‘Funny’, I thought, ‘no-one suggested that there was a time difference’. But what would I know, so I changed my watch to match my phone. Our devices are always right, yeah?

Bookshop
Mas Puro Verso

All was well for 24 hours, though I did wonder at local businesses not opening by 10 am the next morning. But then it was so stormy that people were being blown off their feet in the street and I just thought it was sensible. Did I mention that my accommodation was in a 16th-floor flat? I really thought that life would be quieter and easier at ground level, but it wasn’t much of an improvement. However, I spent a relaxed day between the wonderful café/restaurant of the Mas Puro Verso Bookshop, a hairdresser’s (might as well get that haircut today) and the cinema.

Ah – that was where the issue of time reared its warped head. I got a ticket (free, thanks to my hostess) for a showing at 5pm. It would be warm and dry in there and do my Spanish no harm (good movie, too, as it happens). When I tried to go in, the attendant told me it started at 5 pm. Yes, but it was 4.50 now. ‘Don’t mess with officialdom in any guise’, I thought. I went to the bathroom. On emerging, I looked hopefully at him to see if I could go into the cinema now. ‘It’s at 5 pm’ he said. ‘Yes?’ ‘But it’s 4 pm now’. ‘Really?’ ‘Yes – the whole country’. Hmmm.

Wind-blown tropical trees
Stormy Plaza de Independencia – Montevideo

So my phone was wrong – beware everyone: our devices are not invincible. I had been an hour out all day but it had not mattered. Interesting thought – does it matter what time it is at all?

 

Author: Moira Dunworth

Retired. Cyclist. Volunteer.

One thought on “Time and its warping – Montevideo”

  1. Moira,
    Thoroughly enjoying following your Blog and travels.
    Will continue to follow them.

    Hope you are keeping a diary also
    Best wishes,
    Colin

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