Monday, April 25, 2016

U is for Uruguary



We’re up to the letter “U” in this April’s A-Z challenge as I explore places on my bucket list.  There are a number of places that I could go.  In Africa, there’s Uganda.  During the 70s, this was a dangerous country, especially if you got on the wrong side of the military ruler, king and whatever other title he bestowed upon himself (See the movie, "The Last King of Scotland").  Thankfully,  Idi Amin has been gone for decades and spent his last years of his life in secluded exile in Saudi Arabia.  Today, Uganda could be an interesting place to travel but there are other U's.  In the Middle East there is the United Arab Emirates but alternative realities in the desert don’t impress me.  I've been to Las Vegas.   I could go to the Ukraine and it has some interest, but not enough to make my list.  There’s also Uzbekistan, an exotic sounding place that experienced some of the worst environmental disasters during the Soviet Union days.  The arid land is even more arid as the Soviets pushed them to grow more and more cotton, sucking up all the water and leaving the Aral Sea (once the fourth largest inland body of water in the world) to be a large muddy hole.  And while I wouldn’t mind taking the train through Uzbekistan, it’s not making my list.  Other countries on the “U” list include the United Kingdom and the United States, but I’ve been there..  That leaves me one last country to explore: Uruguay. 
 
I love the name, Uruguay.  It’s one of the smallest countries in South America, wedged between Argentina and Brazil.  It’s also a country known for its stability, the lack of corruption, a large middle class and some nice beaches.  My time in Uruguay would be spent resting on beaches and exploring Montevideo, the capital. 
 

I am going to be traveling and at a conference this week, so my post may be a little shorter and my visiting somewhat limited.

16 comments:

  1. In the late 20s and through the 30s Uruguay was the destination for loose wealth and it became one of the boom areas of the globe during the 2nd worst depression. But this had the same effects as in Cuba and the Philippines where a small cohort absorbed the cash and refused to help the majority once the tide ran out. The main difference was that in Uruguay the cash was Spanish mostly, which moved back to Spain once Franco pushed the Republic back after '36.

    I feel lack of corruption is a relative term.

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  2. I knew zip about Uruguay but now I know a tiny bit more. I have not spent much time in Utah so I think I would head there first but I know you probably know a lot of Utah by heart.

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  3. Lack of corruption sounds very promising. South America is so fascinating anyway.

    @Kathleen01930
    Meet My Imaginary Friends
    #AtoZchallenge

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  4. This is a dangerous world, isn't it? Amin scared the devil out of me. It seems as if this country has now stabilized and people can visit without fear of decapitation or worse. Now we have the Zita in the Americas. Amin-Zita! Always something out to nail you! Hope you get your wish to travel to one of these U countries.

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  5. You've got a lot of traveling to do, my friend. Uraguay is a great choice!

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  6. I'd like to visit the beach in that last picture. It looks relatively secluded.

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  7. Uruguary? Now you're making up countries.

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  8. The letter U brings me to your blog for the first time during the #Challenge. Since the wonderful movie, "the bucket list" has become a part of our lexicon that has been great for naming our dreams. Congratulations on this well presented blog. I wrote about hotels and inns, the architecture and architects, the setting in the community. If you have time or interest, there is still time to join me. Hope to see you. Cheers.

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  9. Thanks for reminding me of the movie "The Last King of Scotland" - it was terrifying but great!

    Have fun at your conference.

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  10. I know Uruguay is a beautiful country and the people lovely.
    I have some uruguayos friends.

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  11. Went up there from Buenos Aires by bus once, not a long trip. It has some beautiful beaches indeed.

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  12. I have heard Uruguay has a huge American expat population. It's on my own bucket list of places to visit.

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  13. Interesting choice. That beach looks lovely.

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  14. Enjoy your conference, and thanks for your beach shot. Those walks down to the water are always my favorite scenes!

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