2 November 2018 – Unexpected Uruguay
Friendly people, sunny spring weather, a laid-back atmosphere, an inspiring organic farm and a sustainable school. Uruguay truly was an unexpected gem!
Rio Grande (BRA) – Buenos Aires (ARG)
“The first sustainable school of Latin America is here in Uruguay!” our immigration officer in Piriapolis exclaims after we tell her about our mission. “And it’s not far from here!” We look at each other in surprise. Never before have we encountered such friendly and helpful immigration officers. The two ladies not only stamp our passports, but are also interested in our mission and offer helpful advice. We also meet American emigrant Lynette and her dog Blondie at the immigration office. What a lovely welcome to a new country!
Cold Water, Warm Spring
Only two days earlier, we set sail from Rio Grande, Brazil’s southernmost port, to Piriapolis, Uruguay. Yet we not only changed countries. The water got much colder, prompting us to look for our thermal underwear, gloves and hats. With the colder temperatures at sea came different fauna around the boat. Black-and-white seabirds, deeply submerged in the water, quickly dove or swam away as soon as they see us: penguins! We never would have thought we’d encounter them in Uruguay…
At the entrance of the marina, we are in for another surprise. Three sea lions swim playfully around the boats, while one is basking on the dock in the warm sun. Here on land, the weather is very different to what we had at sea. The spring has just started and it’s showing off its sunny side. Temperatures reach Dutch summer levels and many people are enjoying the sandy beaches. Some are even swimming in the cold sea.
Pleasant Piriapolis
Located between its large neighbors Brazil and Argentina, we’re eager to explore this country that we know so embarrassingly little about. As we stroll around town, the first thing we notice is the ubiquitous mate culture. Young and old carry cups with this green tea, with a thermos flask of hot water stuck underneath their arms. On the street, at work, even at the beach -everywhere we go we see people drinking and sharing mate.
The town has only a few noteworthy buildings, among them one of the first big hotels in Uruguay. We stay in and around Piriapolis Marina, which is state-owned and well-kept. The yachties share the facilities with many small fishing boats, which land remarkable quantities of fish each day. As the marina is also equipped with a large boatlift and many technical services are available here, many cruisers stay here for maintenance. That’s also true for Helen and Hansueli (of Dada Tux) and Rita and Daniel (of Maramalda), who are also planning to sail south. Over drinks, Floris can speak with them in their mother tongue: Swiss German!
With Lynette we get to discover the surroundings of Piriapolis. She moved here from the US to live more in harmony with nature and the community. She takes us on a hike in the hills. Her loyal dog Blondie shows us the way. Lynette found her in the streets, emaciated and wounded, and transformed her into a beautiful and kind animal.