BONUS: Adiós, Uruguay!

It may have been a brief visit, but it was certainly an enjoyable one. In a way, Uruguay felt like a homecoming, its laidback stretches of sand dune lined beaches could easily have been mistaken for the NSW coast, and days exploring rolling, vine laden hills were reminiscent of trips to the Hunter or Yarra Valleys. Adding to the Australiana vibe, it seemed a country very much more interested in rules and regulations than other parts of the continent. For better or worse you are unlikely to be offered beers on the beach or be able to walk the streets with a cocktail. There are clearly building codes and safety regulations and functioning sewage systems. Cars will even stop at pedestrian crossings! This all adds up to a tourist experience that is very easy, if perhaps a little sedate. I wonder if the relaxed pace might be the motivation pushing many young Uruguayans to travel abroad? Certainly, it felt like the population skewed a little older and we heard that many younger Uruguayans venture to the US and even Australia for work or to study, or ferry over to the excitement and opportunities of life in Buenos Aires. I suppose that is often the way in smaller, quieter parts of the world - it is a country with about half as many people as Sydney after all. There are also no big drawcards enticing visitors to this part of the continent - there isn't the natural drama of the Andes or the Amazon, nor historical wonders like Machu Picchu, or a bustling not-to-be-missed metropolis. But what it did seem to offer was the opportunity to enjoy life's finer things, in abundance and un-harried. They say Uruguayan beef is amongst the world's best, and I cannot argue with that - a perfectly cooked tomahawk being an absolute highlight of my dining in South America to date. And the wines! Without exception, so refined, so interesting, and so delicious. It's the kind of place you would head to for a wine weekend or a week by the beach, but, considering the distance and the offerings back home, I wouldn't rush across the world to make Uruguay the preferred destination for those kinds of holidays. Maybe just a week in the middle of a larger, six month South American adventure.