Several months ago, I was in the little market in our building and approached an English speaking couple from Texas. We chatted briefly and subsequently joined them for dinner, learning they were in the process of building two houses outside a small town (La Mariscala) about 2 1/2 hours northeast of Montevideo in the Department of Lavalleja. One of their sons is living in Uruguay full time and will supervise the construction, the husband is currently on an overseas business assignment and the wife is splitting her her time between here and the US until the houses are built.
She was in town again recently for a couple of weeks and invited us to tag along for a trip to their property and to visit a working estancia owned by Uruguayan friends. Considering we don't own a car and were suffering from cabin fever as a result of the chilly winter, we jumped at the chance for a change of scenery, delightful company and the opportunity to breathe fresh air (I'm not implying Montevideo is congested and polluted, I'm flat out admitting it.)
The scenery on the drive up reminded me of the landscape around southern California--low rolling mountains (the locals refer to them as cerros--hills, to us gringos), groves of eucalyptus and wild palm trees. This particular part of the Uruguay is primarily ranch land dotted with an appropriate amount of gauchos, horses, cattle and sheep.
We pulled off the main highway outside of Mariscala and onto a well maintained dirt road and arrived a few minutes later at their property. We were immediately taken with an impressive stand of large trees that are home to wild green parrots (I actually heard and saw one, but wasn't quick enough on the trigger to snap a picture.)
We wandered about enjoying the sunny day, admiring the beautiful countryside and checking out the two inviting streams that wind their way through the property.
After surveying the land, we grabbed a quick bite to eat at Mariscala's main 24-hour hangout, Restaurante El Rancho--part truck stop, bus stop, parrillada and local watering hole--for a plate of papas fritas and barbequed chicken (chicken seasoned with lemon, garlic, green olives and red bell peppers and grilled over a wood fire. Quite tasty.)Then it was off to the estancia to make new acquaintances and learn about rural life in Uruguay. Plenty of horses, cattle, dogs, sheep and pigs on roughly 325 hectares. We even witnessed a sheep shearing by a gaucho called "Gaucho". I had a marvelous time hanging out with all the critters. Aren't these piglets just the sweetest? We named them "Bacon" and "Sausage". Makes me want to give up pork. Someday. Maybe.
Before long, it was time to hop in the car for the journey back to the big city and a rendevous with our little dog who was none too happy spending the day by herself in the apartment. The good news is we have an open invitation to visit the country any time and bring poochie along for the ride.I am looking forward to visiting our friends in the country once their compound is completed. I'm not much of a country girl, so it is doubtful I'll be riding a horse or anything like that, but I do think I could easily adjust to spending a lazy summer afternoon by the stream, sipping a cold beer and listening to the chatter of the parrots. La buena vida.