Hello and Goodbye, Uruguay
Dear Uruguay,
Sorry that we couldn’t stay longer, but we have to get down to Ushuaia by December 6th and, frankly, you are just too damned expensive!! Nevertheless, the eleven days we did spend with you were lovely.
Chui, your border town with Brazil, was bizarre, sitting in a nomansland between the two border posts. One side of the high street is in Brazil and the other in yourself. It was quite fun to cross the road, border and currency.
Our journey followed your southern coastline (1,032 km) all the way from Chui to Fray Bentos (yes, who knew those delicious meat pies in a tin came from Uruguay!!).
We first visited Fortaleza Santa Teresa, an old Portuguese fort and afterwards we hiked around the adjacent woods and coastline. Really nice and a taste of what was to come.
From there we visited some of your delightful coastal towns with their millionaire properties and then the impressive Pablo Atchugarry sculpture park. While there, we met an Argentine/UK family (Seb, Becca, Lorenzo and Mateo) and they invited us to their chacra (farm/small holding) for a BBQ.
The next day we visited Punta del Este and of course, we took a selfie of ourselves with ‘the hand’ and visited the seals living in your harbour. We camped that night on the Punta Ballena peninsula, next to the Casapueblo Hotel and watched a beautiful sunset over your shores.
Next came the lovely town of Piriápolis, where we drove to the top of Cerro San Antonio and admired the view over the coastline. After treating ourselves to a coffee at the grand Argentino Hotel, we headed out of town to visit the Castillo de Francisco Piria and hiked up a good part of the Cerro Pan de Azucar.
Our fan clutch packed up in Brazil and needed replacing. Hermann and Sibylle from Switzerland were very kind and brought out a spare part for us from Europe in their hand luggage. We met up with them, collected our part and said our goodbyes, although I am sure we will meet up with them again on the road.
We stayed briefly in your capital, Montevideo, toured the city and in the evening danced with the local Scottish Country Dance group.
Next stop was Colona del Sacremento, where we explored the charming historic old town. Before crossing the border to your neighbour Argentina, we visited the old Fray Bentos factory to find out where our pies came from. It was a very interesting tour. We met Mike and Chris there, a German couple in a MAN truck, and we have been traveling with them, on and off, since.
The weather was lovely throughout our stay .and everybody was very friendly.
Best Wishes
David and Francine
Sounds a delightful part of your trip
What a beautiful fascinating country, I had no idea.
It’s wonderful how you keep meeting really good people, it’s nice to know people like that exist!
How lovely to go to a Scottish dancing class, so far from Scotland, good fun eh?
Pity about BB’s clutch, how on earth did you get those people to bring one out for you, are they friends?
Take care
Looking forward to hearing about your next adventure.
Dear Francine and David
Your welcome missive replete with appreciation of the sights and experiences you encountered in our country is extremely gratifying.
We, however, regret you find us expensive but what price can you put on good weather throughout the length of your all too brief stay that we hope you could have extended as valued and appreciated visitors?
All the same, blessings and good wishes for the rest of your travels.
Kind regards
Uruguay
Hermann and Sibylle are heros! Found their blog from your picture above, wonderful!
We love reading about many overlanders’ experiences.
Do you know if Mike and Chris have a blog perhaps as well?
Perhaps we might be able to see each other after all these years. We’re doing a South America and Antarctica cruise in January/February for my 40th.
Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, Ushuaia, Antarctica, Stanley (Falklands).
Would be lovely seeing you both again and meeting Big Bertha!
Safe Travels!
Dear Francine and David
P.S. You may well appropriate the iteration:
“Veni, vidi, vici”
with respect to your recent flying [blink and you miss it] visit to our shores.
But your positive comments/impressions conquered and bowled over our hearts such that from you any entreaty in the mould of:
“Don’t cry for me Uruguay “
will most certainly fall on the deafest of deaf ears.
You are and always will be valued visitors.
Good winds on your back on all your travels.
Uruguay
I hope you ate lots of meat and drank lots of Tannat 🙂
I do miss Uruguay very much.
Hi there
Yes, I agree entirely with the above comments. I really enjoy reading about your adventures and very impressed Francine that you remembered to pack your dance shoes!!!! So you are keeping everyone amused and awaiting the next blog! Drive safely and good luck!
Jean