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.

Lima is Better.

Lima is better than I remember it to be. Limeños may not be quite as kind and courteous as they were in 1962 and 1963, but they are still kinder and more courteous to strangers than I ever remember Californians being. I remember Limenños as being excessively proud. They now seem only as proud as their past and present merit.

Lima is not, however, a good place to be recovering from pulmonary problems. It is one of the few cities which can often be both humid and dusty at the same time.

Health Report

I have a fairly serious bronchial infection distorting my upper bronchi. Have also persistent and ugly infectious conjunctivitis.
Spent most of two days in bed in Bogota.
And now have spent most of two days in bed in Lima.
My weakness of body and mind has given me a fright.
Consulted doctors in both Bogota and Lima.
Am still ill, but seem to be on the mend.

I´m shopping for flights to Montevideo. They are expensive. Fares going up and dollar is still falling.