Remember the old TV series, "The Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous"? Well, I'm sure Punta del Este (or Punta for short) would fit the bill just fine with her miles of clean beaches, large beautiful homes, white yachts, fine restaurants, high-end retails and art galleries, real estate services, exchange houses, and gorgeously-tanned people. It was surreal and a perfect setting to end my grand tour of South America here at Punta. Sitting on a sandy beach and staring out into the Atlantic with a full orange sun setting, I reflected with nostalgia on my past 3.5 months in South America.
Two things struck out on this journey of discovery:
1) People, People, and People - good and bad, they make all the difference! I will cherish with great fondness and gratitude, the kindness, help and generosity that some strangers and new friends have showered on me. Despite all the ills and problems of the world, there is still good on earth.
2) They don't call it the GREAT outdoors for nuthin'! It's true. The majestic mountains, blue-green oceans, calm lakes, white flowing rivers, ice (blue) glaciers, bright stars, gusty (and very loud) winds, fresh crisp air, peaceful quiet, sweet scent of the pine trees, chirpy birds, colorful flora, and the overall positive energy you feel when you're one with nature -- they are all reasons why I keep going back for more. South America is well-endowed in the outdoors and I know I will be back again. Next time, it will be to explore the Amazon and possibly climb Aconcagua in Argentina. :-)
Two things struck out on this journey of discovery:
1) People, People, and People - good and bad, they make all the difference! I will cherish with great fondness and gratitude, the kindness, help and generosity that some strangers and new friends have showered on me. Despite all the ills and problems of the world, there is still good on earth.
2) They don't call it the GREAT outdoors for nuthin'! It's true. The majestic mountains, blue-green oceans, calm lakes, white flowing rivers, ice (blue) glaciers, bright stars, gusty (and very loud) winds, fresh crisp air, peaceful quiet, sweet scent of the pine trees, chirpy birds, colorful flora, and the overall positive energy you feel when you're one with nature -- they are all reasons why I keep going back for more. South America is well-endowed in the outdoors and I know I will be back again. Next time, it will be to explore the Amazon and possibly climb Aconcagua in Argentina. :-)
Above: Pescado del dia ("catch of the day") for ~US$16 was not quite a best-value-for-money meal
Above: At the southernmost point of Uruguay where the Rio de la Plata meets the Atlantic Ocean
1 comment:
nice place! u r so fast. to be at urugray.we didnt go there because of visa issue. i was at florinopolis, brasil, at the uruguay embassy. they told us: as a singapore passport holder, we must wait for 1 week - 1 month for the visa application.
hey, come to santiago and we will give u a big ang pao for chinese new year. how are u going to spend ur CNY?
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