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Uruguay
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Uruguay
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Montevideo
History
The territory now occupied by the
Republic of Uruguay was discovered in 1516 by Juan Diaz de Solis, leader
of a Spanish expedition which, looking for a route to the Indies via the
New Continent, sailed up the Rio de la Plata. Noticing the presence of
natives in the shore, he landed at the head of his men and was
immediately killed. Then, and throughout the whole period of the
conquest, the natives put up such a brave resistance that even today the
Uruguayans are proud to call themselves "Charruas" in memory of the
indomitable spirit and the total refusal to surrender to the foreign
invaders manifested by the tribe which inhabited the southern part of
the country.
The territory took a long time to conquer, not only because of the
strong resistance of the natives, but also by reason of a lack of
interest on the part of the Europeans who did not discover there the
precious metals they had found in Peru. In 1617 Hernando Arias de
Saavedra (Hernandarias), Governor of the Rio de la Plata, realized that
the region´s real assets lay in its extensive prairies and its
inexhaustible reserves of water, together with its relative flatness and
splendid climate, all offering great possibilities for livestock
farming. It was the Governor himself who introduced the first bovines;
they bred remarkably rapidly, soon spreading all over the country and
establishing the bases for its future economy. Later, England and
Portugal came to envy Spain this prosperous colony.
With the passing of the years the descendants of the early settlers—criollos—felt
their freedom restricted under the Spanish administration which denied
them self-government and prevented them from enjoying a flourishing
economy and improving their social status. Gradually, and under the
influence of the American and French revolutions, this dissatisfaction
led to a revolutionary movement which erupted in 1811. It was then that
Jose Gervasio Artigas came on the scene, a military officer who gained
popular recognition and became the leader of the revolution. His ideas
on independence, republicanism and democracy very soon marked him as one
of the greatest statesmen of the American Continent.
The struggle extended over several years, first against the Spaniards,
who after a series of victories were definitively defeated in 1814, and
then against the Portuguese. Betrayed by several of his allies, Artigas
retired to Paraguay, where he died far from the battlefields. But the
flame of patriotism which he had kindled on the soil of his own country
was revived in the hearts of thirty-three men who, commanded by Juan
Antonio Lavalleja, embarked upon the Crusade of Liberation which, backed
by the people as a whole, reached its climax in the Declaration of
Independence in 1825 and the creation of the State of Uruguay in 1828.
In 1830 the first Constitution of the Republic was proclaimed and
General Fructuoso Rivera was elected President. During the first few
years of its existence the new State, like nearly all other American
countries, had to cope with considerable difficulties, the major ones
being the maintenance of internal peace, the promotion of the economy,
and the solution of numerous international problems. But as the years
passed the country settled down and began to prosper in all fields,
reaching its high point in the late nineteenth and early twentieth
centuries. At that time, very advanced social legislation was
introduced, and production was encouraged to the point where the
national currency became stronger than the dollar. In the cultural
field, figures emerged who achieved world-wide fame.
This sound economic and social situation enabled Uruguay to survive the
crisis of 1929 without encountering the serious difficulties which
assailed the rest of the world.
The Second World War did not disturb the peace of the Uruguayans; the
country was directly involved in only one episode, the Battle of the
River Plate which resulted in the scuttling of the German battleship
Admiral Graf Spee.
The sale of Uruguay's traditional products beef, leather and wool
continued until after the Korean War (1950-54), maintaining the
country's stability.
But then a serious crisis arose which spared no sector of Uruguayan
activity. It led to the stagnation of production, foreign debts,
uncontrolled State intervention and paternalism, the inordinate growth
of bureaucracy, and permanent inflation. The social consequences were
inevitable: unemployment, unrest among workers and students, constant
strikes, increasing violence and socio-economic upheaval.
In 1973, amid increasing economic and political turmoil, the armed
forces closed the Congress and established a civilian-military regime. A
new constitution drafted by the military was rejected in a 1980
plebiscite. Following the plebiscite, negotiation s were held with
representatives of the political parties and a plan for the return to
civilian rule was agreed on. National elections were held in Nov. 1984
and in Nov. 1989. The political process has solidified and Uruguay has
returned to its traditional system of freedom and constitutional
government. The last national election was held in Nov. 1999 and the
next one will be in Nov. 2004.
 National Anthem
Uruguayan Food and
Drink
The cuisine of Uruguay is traditionally based on
its European roots, like Mediterranean foods from Italy, Spain and France,
but also from countries such as Germany. Many foods from those countries
such as pasta, sausages, and desserts are common in the nation's diet. The
Uruguayan barbecue, asado, is one of the most exquisit and famous in the
world. A sweet paste, Dulce de Leche is the national obsession, used to fill
cookies, cakes, pancakes, milhojas, and alfajores. The alfajores are
shortbread cookies sandwiched together with Dulce de Leche or a fruit paste.
Dulce de Leche is used also in flan con Dulce de Leche. The national drink
is the Grappamiel. Grappamiel is an alcoholic drink which is very popular in
rural areas. It is made with alcohol and honey. It is often consumed in the
cold mornings of autumn and winter to warm up the body.
A traditional drink, is an infusion called mate. The dried leaves and twigs
of the yerba mate plant (Ilex paraguariensis) are placed in a small cup. Hot
water is then poured into the gourd at near-boiling point so as to not burn
the herb and spoil the flavour. The drink is sipped through a metal or cane
straw, known as a Bombilla.
Traditional dishes
Asado made over the Parrilla both the tradition
of grilling beef over coals (which translates to barbecue in American
English), and the dish, "tira de asado".
Chivito: a sandwich containing steak, ham, cheese, tomato, lettuce, and
mayonnaise.
Choripán: a very popular Uruguayan fast food. A grilled "chorizo" and a
crusty bread such as a baguette, with tomato, lettuce and mayonnaise.
Empanada : a small pie or turnover, most commonly filled with meat or ham
and cheese.
Empanada Gallega: a fish pie, with sauce, onions and green peppers. Brought
by the immigrants from Galicia.
Pancho: the typically Uruguayan hot dog: a bun called "pan de Viena" filled
with a "Frankfurter" with mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise or "salsa golf" on
top.
Gnocchi (known as "ñoquis") is traditionally eaten on the 29th day of each
month. This was the day before payday, when people were at their poorest.
Gnocchi made a cheap and hearty meal. On these occasions, some people leave
a coin or a banknote under the plate to attract prosperity.
Húngara: very similar to the Frankfurter, but very spicy.
Milanesa: a thin, breaded steak. There is a great variety, such as: Milanesa
Napolitana, Milanesa Rellena and Suprema Maryland.
Lehmeyun: an Armenian dish, brought by the Armenian immigrants.
Pascualina: a spinach pie, not unlike the spinach pies found throughout the
Mediterranean the name makes a reference to Pascua, 'Easter'.
Pastel de carne: in English: meat pie. Chopped meat, smash potatoes, green
peppers, olives, eggs.
Russian salad: potatoes, carrots, peas and mayonnaise.
Due to its strong Italian tradition, in Uruguay we can find all the famous
Italian pasta dishes: ravioli, spaghetti, lasagna, tortellini, fettuccine,
cannelloni, fusilli, agnolotti, tagliatelle, capellini, vermicelli, penne
rigatti, fagioloni, cellentani, rotini, bucatini, farfalle and the
traditional gnocchi. Although the pasta can be served with a lot of sauces,
there is one special sauce that was created by Uruguayans. The Caruso Sauce
is a pasta sauce made from double cream, meat extract, onions, ham and
mushrooms. It is very popular with sorrentinos and agnolotti.
Also, we can find a huge variety of pizza. As well as calzone, fugazzetas,
figazzas, fainas, and cheese fainas.
Desserts
Alfajores: shortbread cookies, sandwiched
together with Dulce de Leche or a fruit paste.
Bizcochos: buttery flaky pastry with many variants, the croissants being one
of the most popular.
Dulce de leche: a sweet treat made of milk and sugar. Is used in many
Uruguayan desserts.
Dulce de membrillo: a sweet quince paste.
Budín inglés: in English: "English pudding". A pudding with fruits and nuts,
very popular in Christmas and new year's eve.
Flan: is a kind of rich custard dessert with a layer of soft caramel on top.
It can be served with Dulce de Leche too (Flan con dulce de leche).
Strudel: the famous apple pie from Germany.
Martín Fierro: a slice of cheese and a slice of quince paste (dulce de
membrillo).
Chajá: a desert with meringue, sponge cake, "Chajá" cream and peaches. It is
created by a well know firm in the city of Paysandú.
Pastafrola: an exquisit pie made of quincy paste (dulce de membrillo).
Garrapiñada: a very popular treat, made with peanuts, cocoa, vanilla and
sugar. It is sold in little bags in the downtown's streets.
Uruguay has a 250-year-old history of wine production. The predominating
local grape is tannat. Not a subtle grape, it has a hard and, as the name
suggests, a tannic edge when young. Blending tannat with merlot doesn't help
much. Older oak (roble) aged tannats or those blended with cabernet
sauvignon or cab franc show more complexity. Local wineries include Juanico,
with a lighter style for current consumption, and Pisano with more
structured wines better in older vintages. For beer drinkers, the local
beers Pilsen or Zimmerthal served in .66 litter bottles complement the local
cuisine nicely.
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Life in Uruguay may pass in a safe, peaceful and
pleasant manner. The country offers better security than most locations in
Latin America and Central America . There are no racial, religious or other
conflicts and public meetings are generally peaceful.
Vehicle circulation is relatively fluid even in urban centers. Commuting
time to working sites is short. Cities have spacious green areas and because
of the continuity of the winds and the lack of pollutant industries, there
is hardly any environmental pollution.
A mild climate, the lack of environmental pollution, the extent of the
sanitation, potable water and medical care networks afford a healthy
environment for the population.
Being a small country, distances to leisure locations such as parks,
forests, countryside and sea, river or lakeshores beaches, are quite short.
The national sport is soccer, which captures the interest of the majority of
the population at all social levels. There are numerous private clubs with
excellent sport fields, particularly remarkable golf courses. Montevideo and
other main cities offer important cultural activities comprising a range of
theatre, movies and musical shows.
The Uruguayan market offers consumer goods from many origins and high
quality, at international prices...
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Geographical
Situation and Climate
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La "República
Oriental del Uruguay" (the Eastern Republic
of Uruguay, here in after referred to as
Republic of Uruguay or Uruguay) owes its
name to its location to the East of the
Uruguay River. It is because of this
geographical factor, and for certain
historical reasons, that Uruguayans used to
be called -and still are at times-
"Oriental" although Uruguay obviously
belongs to the Western Hemisphere. As to the
word "Uruguay" itself, it comes from the
Guarani language and can be translated as
"the river of the beautifully colored
birds".
The Republic of Uruguay lies in the Western
Hemisphere between longitudes 53 and 58, and
in the subtropical zone between latitudes 30
and 35 South.
Geographically, Uruguay lies in the Southern
sub-tropical zone of the South American
continent; its territory extends over the
Western part of the Atlantic coast.
Topographically, it is located in the area
of transition between the Brazilian plateaux
and the plains of the Pampas.
The Northern and North-Eastern frontiers
separating Uruguay from Brazil follow
natural mountain topography. Uruguay is
separated from Argentina by the Rio de la
Plata in the South and by the Rio Uruguay in
the West. The Eastern frontier is bounded by
the Atlantic Ocean.
Uruguay covers 176,215 square kilometres,
which may not seem a large area compared
with the size of its two big neighbours.
Nevertheless, Uruguay is larger than Cuba,
Guatemala, Nicaragua or Costa Rica among
American countries, and larger than Greece,
Portugal, Austria or Ireland, among the
countries of Europe. It could contain within
its frontiers Holland, Belgium, Switzerland
and Denmark combined, and there would still
be plenty of space left.
The Uruguayan
territory is divided into 19 Departments,
with Montevideo as its capital.
In addition to this land area, there are
125,057 square kilometres of jurisdictional
waters represented by the great rivers and
frontier lakes.
The territory of Uruguay features gently
sloping hills and elevations of modest
altitude, separated by rivers which flow
down to the sea or into other and larger
rivers. There are no high mountains or vast
plains, no impenetrable forests or desert
regions. Earthquakes are unknown. The
highest point is the Cerro Cathedral,
altitude 513 meters.
The coastal plain boasts many beaches along
the Atlantic coast and on the shores of the
Rio de la Plata. The climate is temperate
throughout the country; there are no
regional variations.
The climate is
mild throughout the year. Temperatures
average 70 F to 80 F (21° C to 27° C) in
summer and 50 F to 60 F (10° C and 16° C) in
winter, but there are occasional cold
spells. Rainfall occurs in all seasons but
is generally heavier in the autumn months.
The major cities
are Montevideo, the capital and most
important port, Paysandú and Salto on the
River Uruguay; and Las Piedras near
Montevideo.
Punta del Este,
on the Atlantic coast, 140 kilometers east
of Montevideo, is one of the best-known
seaside resorts in South America, but is
active only during the summer season.
Punta del
Este
is the primary
summer vacation destination of the jet set,
wealthy people and wanna best from
Argentina, Brazil, and to a lesser extent,
Europe and North America. The steady winter
population of about 10,000 swells to 250,000
in January and February when the tourists
take over. The transformation from a ghost
town to a lively place is so sudden and so
dramatic that it is hard to recognize it as
the same place. If you were to arrive in
early December and stay through Jan 5th, you
would witness an amazing transformation.
Shops, restaurants and night clubs that
seemed closed for good, open for business
and become busy in a few days. You begin to
see throngs of people at all hours of day or
night, supermarkets become crowded, parking
at beaches becomes difficult and car minders
appear out of the woodwork. Late February,
the cycle reverts itself and the place
begins to empty again. The rest of the year,
Punta looks like a well-kept, deserted
metropolis.
In the summer Punta del Este has a complex
and active night life. The hot spots and the
fashionable places change from year to year,
as one beach or another is heavily promoted
as where the famous people go. Revista Caras
(Brazilian and Argentinian editions) for
example shamelessly promote the Bikini beach
as the “in” place, by bringing Argentinian
and Brazilian soap opera stars for photo
shoots.
Since the beach development in Punta now
stretches tens of kilometers, a car is
absolutely needed to enjoy it. Interesting
places are far apart and the popular beaches
may change from one day to the next
depending on the wind direction (yes, it is
quite windy in Punta). Young people often
drive from beach to beach to connect with
different groups of friends. Cell phones
and texting are
important tools for finding your buddies.
The hours in Punta are shifted ahead
compared to other places. Since most people
want to be up most of the night, few get up
before 11 am. Lunch is in the middle of the
afternoon and dinner late into the evening.
The night life does not start until after 1
am. So you need to take a nap or to load up
at a bar until it is time. Many people go
the lavishly decorated Casino for a few
hours of gambling until it is time to go
out.
Punta is quite fashionable. Fashionable
clothing is de rigueur or you will stick out
like a dork. Even the afternoon stroll on
the Rambla requires the latest brand name
sports gear. To go out at night, you are
expected to look nice, very nice. And you
will look definitely “out” without a fancy
car.
Night clubs are heavily marketed at the
beaches during the day to attract the hip
young crowd. Popular night spots usually
have a crowd of people hanging out in front.
People who cannot afford the exorbitant
prices required to get in (and much less the
price of the drinks) hang out outside in a
party atmosphere. After midnight, the Barra,
a popular spot for the very young, is so
crowded that it can take you a long time to
cross it in a car.
Many years ago most of the activity in Punta
was confined to the peninsula. Nowadays, the
whole coast from Punta Ballena to the Barra
is quite developed. Jose Ignacio, further to
the east, is currently the preferred
location of the monied middle aged crowd
that like simple, yet stylish surroundings.
There are outstanding restaurants there, but
with European prices. Houses are simple and
charming and expensive. The 15 km gap
between the Barra and Jose Ignacio is now
attracting land developers and those that do
not want to be left out of whatever it
becomes.
Formalities |
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Canadian visitors please consult Travel
information and advisory reports :For all other nationals please consult your
uruguayan embassy
or consulate in your country of origin.
Population
3 100 000 inhabitants
Main Attractions
Museo Didactico Artiguista
Situated at Perez del Puerto, this museum was set-up in honour of Uruguay's
independence hero - Artigas. One room in the museum features bronze busts of
the Liberators of Americas.
Parque Nacional Santa Teresa
This national park contains the hilltop Fortaleza de Santa Teresa which the
Portuguese started but was completed by the Spaniards. Santa Teresa itself
is a good place to see with its uncrowned beaches.
Mercado del Puerto
Mercado del Puerto is a wrought-iron superstructure which houses a large
variety of restaurants and cafes. It is recommended that foreign visitors
come during Saturday at lunch time as the place is filled with locals and
musicians.
Punta del Este
Punta del Este is the most fashionable resort in Uruguay . The resort is
situated 145 kilometres from Montevideo and has two main beaches. This
tourist destination features a variety of water sports and activities like
water-skiing, surfing and yachting.
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