The Oriental Republic of Uruguay, (to use its formal name), is a small nation situated between the 30th and 35th parallels, situated between Argentina and Brazil, sharing common latitude with the most coveted winegrowing regions of Chile and Argentina.
The country is made up of vast plains and low lying hills, with about 400 miles of coastline along the River Plate and the Atlantic Ocean.
The climate is mild, with temperatures that range between 72º and 95ºF in the summer and between 40ºand 65º in the winter months.
White sandy beaches dot the coastline with resort developments that are among the most beautiful in the world. Punta Del Este is the most widely known beach resort towns, located on the Atlantic Ocean about 60 miles up the coast from the nation’s capital city, Montevideo.
The capital, Montevideo, home to one and a half million people, almost half of the small county’s population, is a beautiful city that offers a look back in time with European architecture, sprawling parks, a world class soccer stadium. Montevideo hosts an annual International Rose Competition in its own dedicated facility, the Rose Garden, part of one of the many lush green parks within the city.
Uruguayans celebrate Carnival from the beginning of February into March, engaging locals and visitors in the festivities for 45 days of music and dance displays and competitions, parades and celebrations of food and drink as well as a multitude of cultural demonstrations, displays and shows in parks, theatres and other locales throughout the capital city. Carnival is celebrated all across Uruguay, in her beach towns and resorts, in her farming and agricultural communities and throughout the entirety of the country.
The official language is Spanish. Uruguay is a democratic country with a republican system of government having a President, congressional representatives and other government officials elected every 5 years and is, largely, free from much of the racial, religious, ethnic and political strife that is seen throughout the world today.
Uruguay is also the birthplace of Carlos Gardel, (1883 – 1935), the world famous Tango singer who was, to the Tango, what Robert Mondavi was to California wines and what Arnold Palmer was for golf: great statesmen that brought something special to the attention of the world. Carlos Gardel brought the Tango into international awareness as an ambassador of the passionate, sensual dance and its fiery, vibrant music. Montevideo hosts the “Viva el Tango” festival in October of each year, with the dance and the music presented in a number of venues, in both indoor and outdoor theatres and concert stages.
Uruguay’s main source of income is agriculture, with world class vineyards, olive groves and blueberry production, followed by tourism to the capital city and the country’s abundant beaches.
The culture of Uruguay is more European than Latino. To characterize Uruguay’s national “personality”, one might say that it is the Switzerland of the Americas; calm, tranquil and steady, minding their own business with a watchful eye on the world around them.