The forecast was right – it’s rainy in Uruguay. Right now it’s even pouring down.

The city presents itself in a grey cover, and especially the beach view is depressing, low grey clouds over a brown muddy Río de la Plata.

Montevideo however, tries to be colorful. I walked through the Pocitos neighborhood, down to the beach, along one of the ramblas.

Like so often, I cannot understand what made a city plant a six-lane street right on its beach. Just like Ipanema, Copacabana, so does Montevideo. It cuts off the city from the beach, and makes the walk along the sea a noisy undertaking.

The first row of buildings are the typical 60s and 70s high rising apartment blocks, the likes you’d find on the Belgian coast in Knokke or Oostende. Just behind, the next street already, is a lovely tree-lined street.

Those houses come in all colors, blue, red, eye-blinding green that would make Kermit the Frog jealous.

Tomorrow I’ll head to the old town an the center. It’s supposed to continue to rain, so maybe I’ll throw in a museum or two. Thursday announces sunshine again.