 | REAL ESTATE
Real estate in Uruguay can be a real bargain. While many of the houses are priced around $200,000 each (US Dollars) they are located RIGHT ON THE BEACH! You can still buy land and houses just outside of the city at a fraction of the cost. There are thousands of plots available all with beach views. Also available are large and small ranches and pieces of land ideal for farming. A one bedroom condo with a spectacular ocean view located in Punta del Este runs abour $60,000 US dollars. One can actually live in the unit most of the year and then rent it out for the months of Dec, Jan, and Feb and actually MAKE A PROFIT! Rent during the top of the season can be very expensoive which leads many Uruguayans to vacate their homes and apartments for part of the year and allows them to own the property at no cost to themselves! One thing to remember is that while Uruguay is roughly 80% of the size of Missouri, it only has about 80% of the population of Missouri and 3/4's of that population lives in the largest cities. This leaves a whole lot of elbow room for those living outside of the main metropolitan areas. The quality of life is very high while the cost of living remains very low. |
 | INDUSTRY
Uruguay enjoys a diverse Agricultural based economy which certainly fits with the laid back attitude of its people. Fishing is widely practiced and is vital to supply the many quality restaurants of all of the coastal cities. Uruguay is also very famous for its beef, lamb, and pork. The Parillada or "Barbeque" is a tradition in Uruguay and is made up of a wide variety of meats, sausages, cheeses and breads. Uruguayan barbeques are always done with wood and never with gas or charcoal. The wood is burned to embers whcih are then spread by the "Asador" (Cook) to the desired thickness for heat regulation. This takes longer than charcoal would, but the wait is more than worth it! One of the largest exports from Uruguay is Dulce de Leche. This sweet caramel substance is used in almost every dessert in the country. Lately the US market has begun to discover this delicious sweet and in some parts of the country you can even get it on a sundae at McDonalds! The next time you are in the grocery store ask for it and you'll be surprised to find they probalby have it! (Look at the label and I'll bet it say "Product of Uruguay"). Uruguay is also famous for its leather work and the wise traveller will not miss the opportunity to purchase some fine boots or a sturdy leather jacket at great prices.
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 | TOURISM
South America has what is called an ""Autumnal Summer". This means that while it is winter in the US, it is Summer in South America. This means that if you wanted to split your time between the two, you would never have to experience a day of winter in your life. Uruguay is far enough south that in winter it actually gets cold. In the summer it really explodes with vacationers from all over, but mostly from Argentina. From November to April the "beautiful " people can be seen everywhere from the beach to the fine restaurants and Casinos, and filling the late night dance clubs. While tourism is not a year round industry in Uruguay, its short season is so busy, many people live for the whole year on the wages they make during tourist season. |
 | NATURAL RESOURCES
A Geode is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary as: A hollow, usually spheroidal rock with crystals lining the inside wall. Uruguay is rich in geological resources inclouding Geodes and enjoys a wide variety of beautiful minerals and formations. There are many Amethyst, Citrine, Calcite, Quartz, Agate, and other mineral mines in and around Artigas, Uruguay which is in the northern part of this small country bordering with southern Brazil (also famous for its minerals and gems). There are also great fields of round stones to be found which, when broken open, are hollow with many diffent types of crystals lining the shells. The geode pictured is a mix of Blue Agate and Purple Amethyst. In northern Uruguay one can find geodes large enough for a tall man to enter and stand up in. These naturally formed objects are exported in great quantity to many countries for use as decorations and even for religious purposes. |
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