Uruguay

The main reason I like Uruguay as as long term visit destination is for the hot watter spas in the southwest, and for the purity of the air.

You may get a better idea of why others like the country click on www.internationalliving.com
and get their free 'Special Report on Uruguay.

Erendira

Erendira is, touristically speaking, on the Ruta de la Salud (Route of Health) in the Pais de la Monarca (Country of the Monarch Butterfly). Speaking in more normal language, it is in the state of Michoacan on the road between Ciudad Hidalgo and the town of Ucareo on Mex highway 15. On that road, the health route, are many hot water spas and Erendida does not have the best of those waters, but I think it has the most beautiful location among many very pretty locations. Still there are thoes who find the Laguna Larga area at the northern end of the route just as beautiful.
Between Erendidra and Laguna Larga you will find several spas with a variety of services and amenities. The ugliest of them is Los Azufres. The waters and mud of Los Azufres are reputed to be the most curative.
I took a "cabin" at Erendira. The cabin was an architectural delight and nicely furnished and decorated. It had two big bedrooms, one with a king size bed and the other with two full size beds. There was also a day bed in the living room. There was no TV but there was a large screen DVD player. There was no kitchen but there was a nice refrigerator and micro wave. There was also a lovely central fireplace. I got all this for P300 with the peso at about 13 everything taken into account. You might have to pay P500 for it especially on a weekend or holiday. However, if you don't have a reservation on those days you probably won't get it at all.
Food at the restaurant is decent, but a bit expensive for me at $5 - $6 dollars for a complete meal.
By the way there is always someone to get a fire roaring in the fire place and to start your chosen movie for you.

More info.:
http://www.turismomichoacan.bob.mx/
http://www.michoacan-travel.com/

Salto, Uruguay

Have we been paying for wars with paper money and electronic money with less backing then ever? Now that foriegners and a significant numer of US citizens are changeing their saved dollars for other currencies or goods, who has all the dollars?
I do see that my dollars are buying less daily.

I took my first look at Lima since about 1963. I Has changed less than many places I´ve been.

Nearly missed, Montevideo, the handsome capital of Uruguay completely in my dash to the hot water spa of Dayman. Only stayed in Dayman two days and am now in Salto.

Hotels here are mostly booked for the week. There is a big cattle show in town. The cattle business is still big, but does not seem to be growing. Crops are being plated on land that was once grazing land. I was surprised to hear that one of those crops might be rice. The gaucho is almost as hard to find as a cowboy who nis a top hand. Still lots of hard riding to be done on an estancia.

A significant number of Uruguayos have worked, and are working, in Australia. Many are permanant residents of that country. The tend to call Australians a cold people. When I ask how cold they are after a few beers in a bar, they agree that they are not cold at all. Mostly what the mean that they find much less mutual entertaning at peoples homes or even group outtings. In most countries of Latin America there is much more visiting and many more get togethers and parties. As a younger man in earlier times I'd quickly find myself the recipient of a couple of invitations. At each of those two get together I'd get at leaset 3 or 4 more invites.

I still have a bit of broncchitis and a bit of an eye infection, but continue to improve.