Salsa Salu

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hours,

Ingredients:

• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 large onions
• 1 red pepper or hot pepper
• 1 carrot
• 2 green olives
• 2 black olives
• 3 ripe tomatoes

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Legends of Uruguay — Calle de los Suspiros and Montevideo

The pretty little street, Calle de los Suspiros can be found in Colonia del Sacramento. Calle de los Suspiros, the Street of Sighs, gives the impression that it is alive with magic and history, that it is breathing with the secrets that it holds that in turn have helped to create the many legends associated with it.

This narrow street with its wedged stones and steps was frequented hundreds of years ago by sailors landing after a long voyage looking for fun, and they would walk along this street in the pursuit of the fun. Entertainment could always be found here by both the Portuguese and the Spanish in Colonia. In the olden days the street used to be called Ansina.

There have been several legends created to explain its current name. One is that those condemned to die were led along the street to be drowned when the tide was up. Another legend tells how the street housed many brothels that sheltered and entertained tired sailors looking for fun, and that soldiers who walked the street would pay the prostitutes compliments and sigh for them again and again.

There is a romantic legend associated with Calle de los Suspiros and it takes us to a moonlit night when a young maid was waiting for her love. Out of nowhere a masked man suddenly stabbed the young maid in her chest with a dagger. The last thing that was heard was a sigh escaping her as she died, a farewell sigh.

The legend surrounding how Montevideo got its name has been long accepted. It goes back to when Ferdinand Magellan visited in 1520 on his way to the Spice Islands in his search of Asia. It is said that as he took in the land before him that he shouted “Monte vide eu”, a Portuguese phrase meaning “I see a mountain”. To back this up is Monte VI d E a O which is recorded in Magellan’s log book and marked on an old map, meant to have been his.

This hill, the Cerro de Montevideo, is home now to an old Spanish fortress which sits proudly on its top overlooking the bay, a good defensive point. The hill is in stark contrast to the flat plains of the pre pampa landscape to be found.

The city of Montevideo was founded in 1724 by the Spanish Crown on the west side of the bay of this beautiful peninsula, and was originally called Felipe y Santiago de Montevideo. It was built for defensive reasons and in 1830 became the capital of Uruguay, its name having been shortened along the way to just Montevideo.

Of course there are theories to explain away the legend of Montevideo’s name, including Magellan’s bad writing, yet whatever the truth iit is well founded and widely believed.

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Places to see in Uruguay

South America’s smallest Spanish speaking country is known as Uruguay. This may be the reason that most tourists have overlooked the country in the past. However to not include Uruguay on your travel itinerary would be a drastic error on your part for you would be passing up a travel paradise. Uruguay has lots to offer the visiting tourist especially for those travelers who appreciate the vivid nightlife that the country has to offer. Once you have arrived and related to this small country you will quickly agree that Uruguay is one of the countries which is certainly worth exploring and is particularly nice to discover.

Modernization has taken its toil in this hospitable country. The people in this land have been enjoying the high standards of their living however perhaps since is low key and the country has not invested heavily in advertising funds most people are unaware as to what the country really has to offer. As a result of this lack of proper advertising Uruguay has lost a considerable amount of the tourist trade to it neighbors Argentina and Brazil. Never the less one should seriously consider a visit to this small nation when planning your next South American trip or vacation.

Here in Uruguay you can readily discover a lost feeling of tranquility and enjoy a relaxed vacation along the countries long stretch of sandy white beaches and partake of its related beach activities. You can feel the fresh wind slapping gently upon your face while you engage in some enjoyable horse back riding. Here you can take advantage of the laid back vacation style and truly experience the various cultures and daily life of the people in this friendly country.

Although Uruguayans share a Spanish cultural background, about 25% of the people are of Italian heritage. Many are Roman Catholic although most Uruguayans do not actively practice a religion. Church and state are officially separated.

Uruguay has a high literacy rate, large urban middle class, and relatively even income distribution. The standard of living there compares favorably with that of most other Latin American countries. Montevideo, with about 1.3 million inhabitants, is the only large city. During the past twenty years, an estimated 500,000 Uruguayans have emigrated, principally to Argentina and Spain. As a result of the low birth rate, high life expectancy, and relatively high rate of emigration of younger people, Uruguay’s population is quite mature.

Some must see places in the country of Uruguay are within Montevideo the country’s capital and they including the breathtaking 17th century Colonial port or the Punta del Este which is a very fashionable and trendy beach resort. You and your family can explore and enjoy Uruguay’s’ long stretch of Atlantic coastlines, lagoons and their famous sand dunes which surely will take your breath away. You will quickly run through roll after roll of film in your camera as you try to take as many of these breathtaking photos as you possibly can. Your camera simply cannot get enough pictures of the beautiful scenery. The fun and adventure will never stop in this place as you relax in one of Uruguay’s many hot springs such as is found in nearby Salto. Nearby you can party the entire night till your hearts desire within the Gaucho country

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Top Historical Places To Visit in Uruaguay

Uraguay has many attractions and places of interest for visitors to explore and learn about the country’s history and culture. The capital, Montevideo, has places to captivate the imagination as well as the beaches that tourists can relax and take in the sun.

The ciudad vieja, the old city, starts at the Plaza Independencia and ends towards the port. Visitors will find Spanish and Italian buildings here and it is a popular place to visit day and night. During the day you will find artists and craft people selling their wares and at night the cafes, pubs and discos open, making the Plaza the ideal place for people to gather and meet up.

In the ciudad vieja visitors can enjoy the old world charm of the blend of Spanish, Italian and Art Deco architecture. The area has iron gates and old fashioned street lamps, containing many antique shops, restaurants and attractions. Visitors can tour the Cabildo and the Iglesia Matriz, built in 1799. Also of the Plaza Independencia visitors will also find the Museo Historico Nacional and the Museo del Gaucho y la Moneda where they can view unique objects and artefacts from the Uraguayan Gauchos. Mercado del Puerto is a lively spot where visitors will find lots of restaurants to sample local fare and artists.

Plaza Independencia visitors here will see some impressive architecture, including Montevideo’s best known landmark the Palacio Salvo which looms over the Plaza. This structure is a massive Italian edifice designed by Mario Palanti, an Italian architect living in Buenos Aires. This edifice was built 1925 on the site where Gerardo Matos Rodriguez is meant to have written the first tango in 1917. Visitors will also find a statue of Uraguay’s national hero General Artigas with its 26 floors.

The Museo Historico Nacional will provide visitors with a glimpse into Uraguay’s past, spread amongst four different historic houses. Most of the restored homes housed at some time Uraguay’s military leaders and politicians. The museo Romantic holding paintings and antiques, the Casa Rivera, the Casa Garibaldi the house of the famous Navy commander in the mid 1880s. The main section of the Museo Historico is topped by an octagonal cupola and was once the home of Fructuoso Rivera, Uraguay’s first president. The museum’s collections traces the history of Uraguay from before it’s colonization to the mid 20th Century.

Museo del Gaucho y de la Moneda celebrates the Uraguayan cowboy, chronicling the history and lifestyle of the gaucho. It contains artefacts and has many interesting educational displays.

Iglesia Matriz is the city’s oldest public structure dating back to 1804 and is located near the Plaza Constitucion. Here visitors can tour the church that contains the remains of politicians and religious leaders of Uraguay. Domed bell towers grace the top of the building.

Finally visitors will enjoy the rambla with its white sand beaches that run the length of it and reaches from the ciudad vieja to the trendy Carasco neighbourhood.

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Another record wheat year is forecasted for Uruguay

Uruguay could be heading for another record of farmland dedicated to wheat and although it is too early to have the exact data, estimates are above 500.000 hectares. Good climate and lower input costs, mainly from fertilizers, could be anticipating a record harvest next December overtaking the 480.000 hectares and 1.2 million tons of the 2008 crop, according to reports in the Montevideo press based on official and private estimates.
Estimates are that 500.000 hectares will be planted with wheat

If this is the case Uruguay will have an even greater surplus to export in 2010. Equally interesting is that Argentina will be out of the market since the neighbouring country’s coming harvest is estimated to be half last year’s crop barely enough for domestic consumption with virtually no volume for exporting. The administration of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner farm policies can be singled out for what promises to be an excellent wheat year for Uruguay.

“If what has been happening for the last four years continues, with yields of 3.000 kilos per hectare, we could be harvesting 1.5 million tons, a historic crop”, said Roberto Symonds Uruguay’s Rural Association delegate to the country’s Wheat Board.

The good wheat crops are not attributed only to better international prices and lower costs. “Wheat runs behind soy, if land dedicated to soy keeps expanding so will the wheat farmland”, added Symonds.

Most soy beans in Uruguay are direct sowing which means with out labouring the soil and since wheat is a good rotating option for conservation and keeping the productive cycle, the complementation seems only natural.

“Most companies renting land are planting crop after crop, the year round, and wheat fits very well. In some cases the alternatives are barley or oats. But barley much depends from the breweries and oats is a minor crop”, said Symonds.

Regarding prices Symonds said that at the beginning of the year the starting floor for wheat was 130 US dollars per ton, “but now it stands at 272 USD, and futures are above 200 USD which means prospects are good”.

Finally Symonds admitted that neighbouring Argentina’s Kirchner administration farm policies have benefited Uruguay. The fact Argentina will be out of the global wheat trading as an exporter next year, means easier access to the Brazilian market plus stronger prices.

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