Uruguay is a victim of comparisons. While Brazil has the breadth of the Amazon jungle and Argentina has the expanse of Patagonia, Uruguay offers only a modest dollop of land fringed by a beautiful coastline. While the country's highlights-the historic town of Colonia, the resorts of Punta del Este and the pleasant city of Montevideo-are worth visiting, they aren't as spectacular as sites that can be found in the countries next door.

Still, we enjoy Uruguay and recommend that anyone with enough time stop by for a visit.
There are few remnants of Uruguay's precolonial history. The country's ancient Charrua Indian population was decimated when the Europeans began to settle the area in 1624. For the next two centuries, Uruguay was a battleground, as well as a prize, in struggles between the Portuguese and Spanish thrones and, later, between Brazil and Argentina. Possession of La Banda Oriental (or the "East Shore" of the Rio de la Plata, as the territory was then called) passed back and forth several times. Finally, in 1828, the region was declared an independent republic, which would act as a buffer state between the two largest South American powers.

By the turn of the century, Uruguay had developed into a model social-welfare state. This lasted until the late 1960s when rampant corruption-combined with an empty national treasury-led to fierce inflation, high unemployment and, by 1973, an urban guerrilla movement. The military stepped in and ruled with a heavy hand for the next 10 years, detaining more than 60,000 citizens. Elections in 1984 and the reestablishment of civilian government have allowed the country to resume its economic, political and social progress.

The people of Uruguay, almost entirely of Spanish and Italian ancestry, are unique in South America in that they are mostly middle class-there aren't the extremes of wealth and poverty that plague the rest of the continent (a legacy of the country's progressive social services). As a result, the nation enjoys a relatively high standard of living and literacy.

Uruguay is characterized by fertile lowlands along the coast and rich alluvial plains and rolling hills in the interior.

Uruguay has more citizens living abroad than in the country itself...Uruguay has the highest literacy rate on the continent...You'll notice thousands of classic cars still on the road in Uruguay. Because taxes and insurance are sky high on newer cars, Uruguayans have kept their De Sotos, Studebakers and even Model As in running order. An inexpensive car, bought brand new, costs the average worker the equivalent of three years' salary...One thing that fascinated us was the number of Europeans, South Africans and ex-Rhodesians living there...Stay clear of visiting during the International Cattle Show and Industrial Exhibition (August) when hotel space is gone!...The more adventurous may enjoy seeking out small candombe clubs in the black neighborhoods of the Barrio Sur. The music is the basis for much competition between groups of musicians and dancers during Carnival...Warm clothes will be needed for the winter months, from June to August...Every year, Uruguay consumes more than 200 pounds of meat per capita....