Can anyone give me some insight on Uruguay?

[MrsMatt]

My 18 year old daughter is taking a gap year between high school and college, and wants to do some travel. Her previous travel experiences have been continental U.S. (family and school) and France and Spain (school).

Her goals are to travel to Japan, Scandinavia (Sweden and Finland, in particular), France and Uruguay. Her father and I will contribute financially equal to what we would have had she gone to college; she needs to earn the rest of the money.

Her focus on Uruguay stems from an online friend she had made 3-4 years ago, and a wish to meet her in person (she's pretty sure it's not a cat fishing expedition). Her initial plans were to travel alone, however I've convinced her to allow me to tag along (to the relief of not only me, but my husband as well). Neither of us speak Spanish (although she's had 4 years of high school French, for what that's worth).

I've done some internet research and it seems to be a safe, albeit unusual choice in travel destination.

Can anyone share any personal experiences with this country? Uruguay never has really appeared on my bucket list, so I'm a bit at a loss as to what to do there. Rural or urban - I personally would probably like to have a little rural (especially livestock) experience as it would relate to my career.

Anything would be more helpful than the internet stuff I've accessed.

thanks!

[enid602]

1. monte

Very clean, very safe. Generally regarded as part of the developed world. Montevideo is half a million people. Nice beaches but no surf. Nearby very famous beach towns are Punta Del Este and Piriopolis. Tiny country. From Montevideo you can take a hydrofoil to Buenos Aires or drive to Southern Brazil. US citizens need a Brazilian visa. Montevideo has great steakhouses. Was there last week. Hope this helps.

[MrsMatt]

2. thanks!

Indeed helpful. I didn't realize it was such a small country. We'll prepare for possible trips to Brazil and Argentina.

My own international experience has been Europe and North America; (vastly different) South America has never been in my travel plans because I've always focused on the countries I have an ethnic heritage tie to (Germany, Sweden, Poland, England, Wales, France).

[Peace Patriot]

3. What I'd like to do if I were going to Uruguay...

Never been there. Love to go. I'm interested in politics and Uruguay has some of the most interesting politics in South America (and that's saying something).

1. First, I'd like to meet Uruguay's recently retired President Jose Mujica (prez from 2010 to 2015--hugely popular but termed out). He strikes me as not just a good leader but also a wonderful man. A leftist, of course. Imprisoned for over a decade and tortured by the U.S.-supported military junta--but never gave up hope and went on to be elected president of the country. Donated 90% of his president's salary to the poor. Lives on a tiny farm in the country with his wife--they grow flowers. Drives an aging VW beetle. Looks like a leprechaun. (Their flower farm is outside of Montevideo.)

2. I'd also like to meet Tabare Vasquez, who was president before Mujica, and was recently re-elected. (They can skip a term in Uruguay, then run again.) He and Mujica are of the same political party--similar progressive policies. Vasquez is one of a coalition of leftist presidents who helped stabilize the region, and pull it together, when the Bush junta was trying to overthrow the leftist governments in Venezuela and Bolivia.

3. Maybe that's asking too much--meeting presidents--but maybe not. I don't know. In any case, I'd like to meet some of the leaders and some of the ordinary people--workers, labor leaders, humanitarians, intellectuals--who brought about this leftist revolution in Uruguay and in the region, and ask them how they overcame the fascist dictatorships that the U.S. supported there for so many awful decades. I'll bet they have a great cafe life in Uruguay, and lots of political discussion.

4. I'm super interested in history and Indigenous culture. There is lots of the former (history) but not much left of the latter (Indigenous culture--present for 10,000 years but disappeared pretty fast with European colonization) in Uruguay. I'd seek info on the Guarani (the only remaining tribe).

Suggestions:

Learn some Spanish. Here is a free on-line quick Spanish course: www.allfreespanish.com. Even if you don't become fluent, you will make friends by trying.

Uruguay has a very mild climate, but it's reversed from ours (warm in our winter, colder in our summer--but generally nice). Off-season there is also opposite. Go during our summer, if you don't mind slightly chilly weather--lower rates, fewer tourists.

Colonia del Sacramento--town created by the Portuguese in 1680 as a strategic port--has been preserved and looks quite beautiful. (But Uruguayans overwhelmingly speak Spanish now.) It was smuggler's port at first; now a major tourist and trade center on the Rio de la Plata. UNESCO World Heritage site. Gateway to the Uruguayan Riviera (really nice beaches). I'd say it's a "don't miss!"

Lucky you! (and your daughter!)