Uruguay: After Thoughts

Uruguay definitely seemed like the Switzerland of South America. Expensive, for one. The people are very polite and speak the same flavor of Spanish as the Argentines. It is THE place where the rich South Americans flock to: Punta del Este, Uruguay. This place has overtaken the popularity of Rio de Janeiro, by South American standards. There are millionaire mansions on par with Beverly Hills. Shakira has a mansion somewhere near Bikini Beach, of course. Big names have holiday homes here. Strolling around Punta you see rich people. Nice cars, designer everyhing: the real stuff, not the fakes. Both adults and children wear designer stuff. Yup all the way to the tiny bikinis on the beaches. Very good looking people. And I do agree Bikini Beach makes South Beach look amateur as this American fellow traveler put it. Uruguay generally is a safe country. I have been told and tend to agree that crime on the street is low. Well, obviously, especially in Punta. No worries about whipping my outdated digital Casio Exilim here. To get here by road from Montevideo or Colonia. To get to Punta del Este, you first fly into Montevideo. Then arrange for private transport or public bus from Montevideo. It is a 3 hour bus ride. From Colonia, it is a 5 hours bus ride. Hardly any English speaking tourists here. Hardly any Americans or Asian tourists. Saw quite a few Italian, French and other European tourists here. Most tours are offered only in Spanish. And yeah, the Uruguayans are crazy aboute their Yerba Mate. I was glad to get out. It was way out of my budget but I had to see it, being so near.