If you have an idea what Argentina is like, you have got already a certain picture of Uruguay -
People and culture are european mediteranian, with a little dash of Gaucho. Spanish is spoken.
BSP and living standard can be compared to Mexico, however more evenly distributed amongst the
population. Agriculture is - still - the most important part of the economy, beef, wool, dairy products,
cereals, fruits, wine, followed by tourism (the Atlantic sea resorts).
Uruguay has long been quite a wealthy country, until the 1950's .
A certain slightly oldfashioned european charm still remains of that era,
together with quite a lot of Turn of the Century and Art Deco architecture.
The temperate climate with its seasons opposite to the northern hemisphere
would be comparable to Melbourne or New Zealand North Island.
Agricultural land prices are comparably low, though not as much as a few years ago.
Farm management is extensive, low input of capital and technology, but this as well is changing.
And else - This is big sky Pampa country, 3,5 mio people share it with 4 mio cattle and 500.000 horses,
and you will meet a lot of friendly people.
(I wrote these lines in 1999 for living abroad magazine)
Is Uruguay exotic and spectacular - oh no, just the contrary !
What you probably notice immediately when going there is that you haven’t left your cultural hemisphere.
I have read that the town of Colonia is one of the most outstanding colonial cities of Latin America. Maybe, maybe not. It is actually quite a small place.
Maybe also a bit over commercialized.
What is most characteristic when you are in Colonia, unlike visiting an Indio market in the Andes, or buying a house in the Afro-Carribean – you are not a visitor from outer space. You blend in.
This is still the European old world new world (if you excuse that expression), probably more so then anywhere else in the Americas.
What you might also notice in Uruguay, is the politeness, the gentle-manneredness.
I live in Uruguay since a couple years during the southern hemisphere summer, slowly renovating my Estancia and I have never been given the feeling that I don’t belong there.
The word Gringo is non existent in Uruguay.
What I like best is that here I can live my idea of having an ESTATE.
You know, an estate in the 19th century sence of an estate, in the Gone With The Wind sence of estate.
Stately, romantic, historic and authentic, producing income from agriculture, and for a fraction of the price I pay in Europe or the US.
Sometimes, when we have vistors, I miss it that there is nothing breathtaking to show, to go for a day trip. We fly to Rio then.
On other occasions I notice how Uruguay is becoming mainstream.
The vintage cars are disappearing, crime is on the rise, real estate is still comparable cheap but the incredible bargains are gone, gentrification is on the march in the old town of Montevideo,
while the slum belt around Montevideo is growing just as well.
But drive 1h out of Montevideo and you are in the gently roling range land of the Uruguayan Pampa, enter a gravel road and the first Gaucho you see on horseback by the roadside
will rise his hand to greet you, because this is what you do in Uruguay’s interior when people pass.
(I wrote these lines in 2006 for another magazine)
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