Argentina - Uruguay

ihana.com - big trip - diary - uruguay - december 2002

 

A quick search in the back

Students with maté

A novel way to give directions

Monday 16 - Wednesday 18 December

In Argentina we first had to go through the customs. Dreading a big search like the one we almost had in Iguazu, we pulled up to the three officals with some trepidation. Fortunately it was a hot day and the idea of them going into the back of the dusty landy didn't seem too appealing. The most junior was sent in and a couple of minutes later he waved us on, wiping the sweat from his brow. Posadas was having its siesta so just about everything was shut. We headed into the centre and found an internet place opposite a college where some girls were sat drinking their Maté. A few emails later followed by a big, cheap meal, we headed out of town. After a few wrong turns we made it out with the help of a guy who hitched a ride on the bonnet.

Oh yeah? Check our sticker!

Flat and flooded

3 horse power

No worries at the Uruguay border

Into busy Uruguay

Tomb in the middle of nowhere

We cruised south through flat wetlands full of birds of all sorts of colours from green to pink. A couple of signs about the Falklands caught our attention and we had to stop to put the record straight! Having plenty of British flags on the landy hasn't brought us any unwelcome attention, just the usual friendly waves and toots.

After a comfy night camping in a petrol stations huge garden, we reached the Uruguay border at Salto by lunchtime. Customs was very relaxed and easy although they did confiscate our small supply of onions, garlic and 'green things' which we cook up with eggs for breakfasts. After restocking our supplies and filling our bellies, we meandered east towards the centre of the country. On the quiet roads all the other drivers and people going by on foot and horseback give friendly waves. The beautiful scenery is very much like northern England or Scotland and so is the weather with occasional torrential downpours and lukewarm sunshine.

Cemetary

Plenty of wine been drunk

Thistles - just like Scotland

The sunsets last for ages this far from the equator, something we're not used to anymore. The storms are different too, the thunderclaps echo and roll around the hills for an inordinate amount of time, probably about thirty seconds for each lightning flash, wicked!

Cows and sheep are everywhere and men on horses tend them. One image we failed to capture was of a bearded gaucho (cowboy) with a big red satin lined black cloak smoothly dismounting his horse to open a gate - a scene from some romantic film couldn't have done it better.

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