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1994
Uruguay - South America
Bec2004-09-20 17:40:52
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Montevideo
Surrounded by palm trees in the center of the Plaza de Independencia is the black marble mausoleum of José Gervasio Artigas who declared Uruguay's independence in 1811 and defended it against its neighbours until both Argentina and Brazil abandoned their claims in 1828. The building with the funny looking tower is an unmistakable landmark of Montevideo, I'm sure there isn't another one like it anywhere else in the world!
Uruguay is distinct from Argentina but they have much in common culturally. Both have a tradition of violent politics with civil war and dictatorships alternating with intervals of democratic civilian governments. Both have almost completely eradicated the original indigenous population and have resorted to massive European immigration.
Both people speak Spanish with a particular accent and eat huge quantities of meat mostly in the form of "parilladas". Their relationship is similar to that of Canada and the United States, with the southern partner being bigger, louder and more overbearing and the northern partner sharing similar values but being somewhat more advanced socially.
Punta del Este
Punta del Este cannot match Argentina's Mar de Plata but that's normal because the country is smaller and the people less pretentious.
I found Uruguay's beach city more pleasant than Mar de Plata because it is smaller and less crowded (at least when I was there).
Atlantida
There are several great beaches, like this one at Atlantida, between Montevideo and Punta del Este.
Here is another view of Atlantida Beach on a Monday morning in March 1994. After a couple of days of doing nothing but enjoying the good things of life, I said goodbye to the lady and moved on to Paraguay.
Copyright Bernard Cloutier
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See photographs from:
Uruguay Gallery
