Living in Uruguay





Living In UruguayHello and welcome to my Living in Uruguay homepage.

A while back, I decided to take some time away from the corporate workplace and travel to Uruguay, South America. My decision to travel to Uruguay, instead of other South American countries, was as much by chance as anything else (as you can read in my post "Why Choose Uruguay?".)

You may notice in my writings that I developed a great fondness for this smaller country, overshadowed to the north by Brazil and the south by Argentina. Your impressions are correct. Uruguay is a country filled with wonderful people, outstanding beaches, and a warmth unseen in many places.

This Living in Uruguay section is dedicated to this wonderful country. If you're fortunate enough to visit, be sure to not only embrace their culture, but their language. I used this Spanish program before my arrival. You can download it now and begin immediately.

In all of my writings about Uruguay, I try to bring you not only the facts and references of a location or event, but what it felt like through my experiences. I hope you enjoy and get to Uruguay for a visit soon.

Salud,
Richard

PS: If you would like to be notified when I write new information about Uruguay, you can have the articles automatically emailed to you (it's very secure) or subscribe via a reader.



Sep 16 2008

Uruguay (The Vices): Gambling, Prostitution, and Drugs

Published by Richard under Living in Uruguay

There are three things that are legal (well, one is semi-legal) in Uruguay that you may not be able to do at home:  Gambling, Prostitution, and Drugs.  With such vice-availability, I began to call Uruguay The Amsterdam of South America

Gambling in Uruguay

gamble in montevideo uruguayBack in the good ole’ USA, I have been to Las Vegas a time or two, or three, or more, but who’s counting.   And so, as I was reading up on Uruguay before I visited, I had read that casinos are legal in Uruguay. 

I’ll have to be mindful of this one, I thought.  I am going to South America to experience the culture, the people, the history…not another casino.  However, like any good investigative journalist, I had to take one for the team just to report back to you, the reader.  Continue Reading »

8 responses so far

Sep 09 2008

Uruguay: Visa Requirements, Visa Extensions, and Passport Information

Published by Richard under Living in Uruguay

uruguay visa passport extensions requirementsI initially planned to visit Uruguay for approximately 4 months.  However, when I read the Department of State’s Uruguay page, it said:

All United States citizens entering Uruguay for business or pleasure must have a valid passport.  U.S. citizens traveling on a regular passport do not need a visa for a visit of less than three months.” Continue Reading »

5 responses so far

Jul 12 2008

Punta Del Este, Uruguay: Summer on The Gold Coast

Published by Richard under Living in Uruguay

bikini at punta del este in the summer

Summer In Punta Del Este

Returning to Punta Del Este, after being there during the winter, was like returning to a ghost-town and finding it filled with people laughing, drinking, sunning, and enjoying every moment.

The wealthy set from all over South America and the world descend on Punta Del Este immediately after Christmas and the party lasts for a few months. Continue Reading »

7 responses so far

Jun 11 2008

Punta Del Este, Uruguay In The Off-Season

Published by Richard under Living in Uruguay

punta del este in the winter

Punta Del Este, Uruguay is unlike any other beach town in Uruguay.

Whereas most beaches in Uruguay are more laid-back and filled with actual Uruguayans, Punta Del Este during the South American summer is the hub of South America’s (and the worlds) elite.

My first exposure to Punta Del Este was not in the summer.  It was at the end of September, the beginning of the springtime in Uruguay, when winter is slowly releasing its grasp on the cold weather.  We were fortunate to have a good day at this time of the year and decided to take advantage of it with a visit to Punta Del Este. Continue Reading »

2 responses so far

Jun 06 2008

Cabo Polonio, Uruguay: Serenity Now

Published by Richard under Living in Uruguay

When I am asked, “What is your favorite place in Uruguay, the answer invariably is Cabo Polonio.”  It’s a little slice of Heaven on Earth.

Like Heaven, it is also very difficult to get to-you have to pay attention to what you are doing or you’ll miss it. Continue Reading »

7 responses so far

May 22 2008

Renting a Car (and driving it) in Uruguay

Published by Richard under Living in Uruguay

Renting a car in Uruguay is a tremendous way to get around if you intend to see many places in a short amount of time.

  If you are simply going to one place (like Punta Del Este) for several days, it is better to travel by bus.  Continue Reading »

2 responses so far

May 20 2008

Spanish Instructor in Montevideo Uruguay

For those that are visiting Montevideo, Uruguay, and seeking to learn spanish, I thought I would introduce you to my Spanish teacher Alejandra (Ale).  Ale helped me with many of my Spanish web site projects while I was here (see Spanish Pronunciation: Spanish Readings of Paulo Coelho Essays as an example) and she was also my private Spanish tutor for 6 months. Continue Reading »

5 responses so far

Mar 30 2008

Summer In Uruguay

Published by Richard under Living in Uruguay

learn spanish for uruguayIf you read about my arrival in Uruguay, you know that I was greeted by warm people and cold weather. This ran counter to all my dim intuition which says travel south, get warmer. Well, thankfully, over time, the weather changes. Even better, the people don’t. Continue Reading »

No responses yet

Mar 27 2008

A One Day Trip to Colonia, Uruguay

Published by Richard under Living in Uruguay

A One Day Trip to Colonia, Uruguay

My Uruguayan friend Vicky and I took a trip to Colonia, Uruguay last week.  Colonia is town situated along the border between Argentina and Uruguay.  Most folks pass through here on their short journey to Buenos Aires (the quick boat gets you there in just an hour).  It’s well worth it to take the time to visit Colonia rather than just passing through.

Colonia is a strong mix of Spanish and Portuguese history.  The two empires fought endlessly over Colonia like she was a woman neither could live without.  Continue Reading »

One response so far

Oct 21 2007

Uruguay: Bills, Bidets, and Boundaries

Published by Richard under Economics, Living in Uruguay

Random Observations:  Bills, Bidets, Boundaries, Bicycles

There are 3 main cell phone companies:  Ancel, MovieStar, and CTIMovil.
Nobody here makes a phone call.  If you receive one, it’s important, or the person is rich and lazy. 

Continue Reading »

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2 responses so far

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