Where can you get your lamps/lights fixed and buy lighting accessories?

I can highly recommend the services at the Prisma shop in Carrasco.  Not only do they offer a wide selection of light bulbs and other lighting accessories, they also do repairs.  They replaced a switch on a lamp for me while I waited and it only cost 70 pesos :) very friendly, knowledgeable, efficient and cost-effective service.  

Prisma

Arocena (between Jamaica and Pedro Domingo Murillo) - just before Arocena turns into Alberdi

Tel: 26000278

Where can you get framing done in Montevideo?

I can happily recommend the framing work of Rochelle at Demiati.   Rochelle works from home framing under her company name Demiati.  I have had numerous pictures/photos/canvases framed by Rochelle and I love them all. 

Check out Demiati on Facebook and feel free to contact Rochelle with your queries :)

What activities are there for kids to do in the school holidays?

Entry fee: $280

Teatro de la Candela (Ellauri 381. Tel. 2712 32 27)

At Castillo Pittamiglio

4pm every day, from Monday June 29 to Sunday July 12, 2015

Information and reservations:  Tel. 2710 1089 or 2716 5485

http://www.descubrimontevideo.uy/

From 29 June to 12 July in the theatre at the Carrasco Lawn Tennis Club.  There are other activities too but please note that there are limited places and some activities are only for members.

Entry fee: $ 230

More information here:  www.clt.com.uy

http://www.montevideo.gub.uy/institucional/noticias/intendencia-ofrecera-espectaculos-en-vacaciones

What are some great restaurants in the Carrasco area?

I live in Carrasco and often get asked what restaurants are good in the area.  So this will be the first in a series of Carrasco restaurants reviews:

Tiziano
Murillo 6566 (corner with Arocena)
http://restotiziano.com/
I love this restaurant, in summer you can sit outside in a fully fenced garden area (so the kids can't escape!) and they even bought my children pens and colouring paper!  that is unusual for Uruguay.  In winter the inside is lovely and warm with great decor.  The service was great and the food was delicious, no complaints from me.  Tiziano offers the usual Uruguayan style food (BBQ, pizza, pasta) with a few added extras.  I will be returning to this restaurant for sure.

You can see all my reviews (restaurant, hotels, sites and more) on Trip Advisor.

Where is the best place to exchange money?

There are many different cambios (money exchanges) in Uruguay.  My personal favourite is Gales, I find they do great rates and I have always used them.  I have shopped around before to find the best exchange rate and have always ended up back at Gales!

www.gales.com.uy

How can you get a Uruguayan driver's license?

How to obtain a Uruguayan driver's license:

 
If you have a current driver’s license from a country outside of Uruguay then you can obtain a Uruguayan driver’s license.  You will need to go to the Intendencia de Montevideo at 1360 Avenida 18 de Julio, you will need to take with you:

• Your valid Uruguayan cedula (Identity Card) 
• Your valid passport
• Your current driver's license
• A translation of your driver's license if it is from: Japan, China, Korea, Egypt, or Israel
• Proof that your last entry to Uruguay was less than a year ago (prove with your passport, a migration certificate, or flight ticket).
• A medical exam issued by an approved medical facility (the Intendencia de Montevideo can give you a list of facilities).   Note: there is one just a couple of blocks from the Intendencia de Montevideo (the person at the driver’s license office can direct you there) therefore you can do the exam at the same time you do the drivers license application.

Notes:

• The whole process takes 1-2 hours (depending on if you have done the medical exam prior to arrival) and it is quite easy.
• Online description of Driver's license application process for Montevideo 
• Main driver's license webpage for Montevideo

Process I followed in 2013:

• At the Intendencia de Montevideo follow the signage to the driver's licences section
• Take a number at the counter and wait to be called
• The person at the counter will check your documents and give you a ticket, they will instruct you to go get the medical exam
• Follow the directions you are given to go get the medical exam from the closest facility (take a street map with you and then you can just easily make your way there)
• Take the ticket and the medical exam back to the same driver's license counter - the person will stamp it/process it and give you a paper/ticket to go to the photo section -they will direct to you to the place to go get a photo
• Go to the photo section in the Intendencia de Montevideo, get a number and wait to be called
• When you are called hand over your paper/ticket and get your photo taken 
• Then wait for your name to be called and they will hand you your Uruguayan driver's license!

How can you experience Russian art/culture in Uruguay?

The Grupo del Arte - Rusia en Uruguay with the support of Russian Embassy in Uruguay invites you to a day of Russia in the old city!

How can you make Sweet Thai Chilli sauce?

In Uruguay it can be easy to get excited when you see an imported food item but it is also easy to forget that some items are actually easily made and taste better than the brought versions.  I used to buy the imported Sweet Thai Chilli Sauce from Devoto until I tasted this homemade version, now this is what we make at home:

Sweet Thai Chilli Sauce

Ingredients:

3 garlic cloves, peeled

2 hot red peppers (jalapeno, serrano, thai, cayenne, etc.)

¹⁄₂ cup sugar

³⁄₄ cup water

¹⁄₄ cup vinegar

¹⁄₂ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon cornstarch

2 tablespoons water

Directions:

1.      Keeping the seeds makes for a hotter end product, removing less so. Keep in mind it will be hotter the first day and dissipates over time. Resist the urge to taste and redip your spoon. Enzymes in saliva breaks down starches and will eventually make it watery.

2.      In a food processor blend together the garlic, red peppers, sugar, water, vinegar and salt into a puree; transfer to a sauce pan.

3.      Bring mixture to a boil and simmer until the mixture begins to thicken and garlic and peppers bits slightly soften, about 3 minutes.

4.      Combine cornstarch and water to make a slurry. Whisk into the sugar/pepper mixture. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute. Cool completely before storing in refrigerator.

You can double the recipe if you want to make more.

How can you manage the dampness issue in houses in Uruguay?

We all know that houses can get very damp in Uruguay in winter.  The way I manage the dampness in my two-storey house is 3-fold:

1. opening all blinds/shutters everyday to get as much sunlight into every room.
2. running a de-humidifier all day (I can get 5L of water a day from my house!).
3. putting containers of water absorbing crystals into all wardrobes and large cupboards (my favourite brand is Fragance Sec).

Where can you buy party supplies in Montevideo?

Although you can find a few party supplies at supermarkets in Uruguay (i.e. Devoto, Geant, Tienda Inglesa, Disco, TaTa), my favourite stores to buy the best party supplies are Effa's Party and Super Fiestas.

www.effasparty.com.uy

Portones Shopping
2604 3047

Geant Shopping Mall
2601 5855

Pocitos
Oscar Gestido 2465
2707 4119 or 2707 4106

Montevideo Shopping
2628 7078


www.superfiestas.com.uy

Avenida Rivera 3471 esq. Luis Alberto de Herrera
2628 3151
Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 19:30

Justicia 2373
2208 2061
Monday to Friday 9:00 to 18:00, Saturdays 9:00 to 13:00

Arenal Grande 2425
2200 3112 
Monday to Friday 9:00 to 18:00 Saturdays 9:00 to 13:00

Colonia 921
2902 7854 
Monday to Friday 10:00 to 19:00 Saturdays 9:00 to 13:00

Colonia 1348 esq. Ejido
2902 8599 
Monday to Friday 9:30 to 19:30, Saturdays 9:30 to 13:30

8 de octubre 3666 esq. Comercio
2507 2431 
Monday to Friday 10:00 to 19:00, Saturdays 9:30 to 13:30

Where can I find a great dentist for both children and adults?

I am happy to recommend Dr Giselle Weill as a great dentist for children and adults. Dr Giselle speaks excellent English and her clinic hours include evening appointments which is great.  Furthermore, I find it very convenient that I can just text her when I want an appointment and she gets straight back to me every time.

099 138346 or 2601 2302
Address: 1795 Rafael Barradas, Carrasco

How can you get a taxi easily and without having to speak Spanish?

Download the Easy Taxi app - it is the World's most downloaded taxi app (and it is free!).

Easy Taxi:
- uses GPS to find where you are located (and allows you to save addresses for future use)
- locates the closest taxi to you
- assigns that taxi to you (by sending the driver a message via the app)
- shows you the taxi drivers name, model of car, licence plate number, cell phone number
- tells you how long it will be for the taxi to arrive

Then once the taxi arrives you click the button that says 'already boarded' and you are away!

I use this app in Montevideo and love it, the taxis are always on time if not early and I feel safer knowing that I have all the drivers details.

http://www.easytaxi.com/

Where is a great bakery in Montevideo?

I visited many bakeries in Montevideo before someone told me about Del Museo.  Once I visited Del Museo I never went to another bakery again.  Del Museo offers delicious breads and pastries - it is worth checking out!  The multi-grain breads, bread rolls, croissants, bizcochos, apple strudel and donuts are favourites of my family.

I recommend a visit to Del Museo:

1978 Av. Arocena, Carrasco
Tue-Sun 7.30am-8pm

Av. Marques Castro & Av. Giannattasio Km24,300: Solymar (Ciudad de la Costa)

Where can you get bicycle servicing, repairs and assistance?

I am happy to recommend Carrasco Bikes for bicycle servicing, repairs and general assistance - they offer a very friendly, efficient and reasonably priced service and they speak English too!  I will be heading back to Carrasco Bikes for all my bicycle needs :)   

Address: 2090 Arocena

Phone: 2600 0328

E-Mail: trekcarrasco@adinet.com.uy

Where can I get clothing repairs/alterations done?

Well you asked the right person...I can do any clothing alterations/repairs you need!  Whether it be knee patches on your kids school pants, a new zipper in a jacket, hemming of trousers/skirts, shortening trousers to shorts etc etc.  Send me an email at contactaskannette@gmail.com  for more information.

Where can you get good fish'n'chips in Montevideo?

These are my favourite restaurants to get a great meal of fish'n'chips (as us Kiwis like to call it):

Parador Don Ceriani
Rambla República de México 12 (where it meets with Araucana)
Playa la Mulata
Punta Gorda


Puerto Mulata Restaurant 
(this restaurant has indoor seating so the best option to go to in cooler weather)
Rambla República de México (where it meets with Beyrouth and bus stop 21)
Playa la Mulata
Punta Gorda


El Moritto
Rambla Pte. Wilson (on the bend directly opposite the Teatro Ramon Collazo)
Parque Rodo

Are there coupon/discount websites in Uruguay?

I can recommend two different coupon discount websites that I have used in Uruguay - Groupon and Woow.  You can sign up to receive emails of the daily deals or just follow the websites as you chose.  The websites offer everything from hotel deals, restaurant coupons, goods, services, food and beverage deals.

Check out the sites here:

Groupon

Woow

Do you have a question for Annette?

Where is there a great family-friendly and affordable restaurant?

Mendizabal is a favourite restaurant of mine in Montevideo.  It has a large amount of seating so you don't need to book, the service is excellent, it is family friendly, the menu is extensive, the food is delicious and I have never been disappointed, plus it is affordable (similar prices to La Pasiva but much better food!).  Mendizabal is my family's go-to restaurant on weekends :)

RESTAURANTE MENDIZABAL

Av. Italia 5750 (where it crosses with Esq. Bolivia)

Carrasco - Montevideo

Tel.: 26006811

Where can you buy craft supplies in Montevideo?

La Casa del Artesano is an awesome craft supplies store - it stocks everything you need to craft with ceramics, scrapbooking, painting, drawing, wood, decoupage, stamping and much more.  I would highly recommend checking out this store at 18 de Julio, 2271, www.lacasadelartesano.com.uy.

Can you buy heated towel rails in Uruguay?

Yes you can buy heated towel rails in Uruguay.  Check out the two types available from Soluciones Integrales:

How can I heat my house efficiently and cost effectively?

I am happy to recommend the Econo-Heat heaters/fires that can be purchased here in Uruguay.  The below pictured heater wall panels (a technology from South Africa) are imported here to Uruguay and run at the cost of leaving 4 x 100watt light bulbs running!  I have one in my kids bedroom and I leave it running all night to keep the room warm.    The Eco Sol company also sells the wall panel heaters (but I have not used their products before).

Another heating solution from the 'econo-heat' group of heaters to save on your electricity bill is this heater that heats up to 60m2:

It is an electric energy efficient heater that I use in our living area and other rooms (you can just unplug it and wheel it around to different rooms). 

Although the outlay cost of these heaters may seem expensive, since buying these and switching my UTE electricity meter to the split tariff, I have halved my electricity bill in winter!

Anyone keen for some Zumba?

What can you do this coming weekend in Montevideo?