La Mano, Punta del Este, Uruguay

Back for a second visit to Punta del Este today.  We opted to just take the tender ashore by ourselves (without going on a tour) and walked to the ocean side of the city, and then back to the Rio de la Plata side (about 3 miles), where our ship is anchored. 

We were amused to see that there were several loudly vociferous sea lions bobbing in the water right next to the local fish market, where the fishermen throw the fish guts back into the water -- who knew you didn't have to take a boat out to "Sea Wolves" island to see them!  (See extra photo).

This is a bizarre sculpture on the sands of Brava Beach, created by Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrázabal in 1982.  It is known locally as La Mano ("the hand"), and is said to serve as a warning of drowning to swimmers, as the waters there are very rough and dangerous.