Oh ya, every once in a while it feels good to say, “I told you so!” The city of Montevideo, capital of Uruguay, is finally coming into its own. It has been with great anticipation that I have waited for the day the “modest” city would emerge out from under the long shadow cast across the Rio de la Plata by Buenos Aires. I don’t know, maybe its my penchant to root for the under-dog, but I always felt the two cities were like twins separated at birth; both with equal beauty and potential, but due to fickled finger of fate Buenos Aires flourished, while Montevideo floundered. But the makings of a beautiful and vibrant city have always been there lurking under years of neglect. Now the city has found its own identity and is attracting the attention is has long deserved. 

Located on the east coast of South America, the country of Uruguay is the size of the state of Colorado and has a total population of 3 million, half of which live in Montevideo. With a Mediterranean climate and coastal breezes from both the Atlantic and the Rio de Plata, Montevideo does not suffer from the high humidity and up-river in Buenos Aires. Additionally having coast on the blue Atlantic creates wonderful white sand beaches right in the middle of the city; but if that isn’t good enough a few hours away is the world-famous resort of Punta del Este. Uruguay enjoys one of the highest standards of living and is ranked among the best countries for quality of life, health and safety. Montevideo extols the same wonderful architecture, seductive tango and delicious gaucho traditions (including the parilla) as Buenos Aires but at a fraction of the population, cost, traffic and hassle. With beautiful suburban residential areas and a newly restored historic Old Town, Montevideo is attracting investors and ex-patriots from all around the world.

Next year the Seven Seas Mariner will be calling on Montevideo twice when it travels from Rio de Janiero on November 26, 2012 to Buenos Aires and then again on December 6, 2012 from Buenos Aires back to Rio. For those of you thinking of something new and different why not board the ship in Monte Carlo on November 9 and stay on through to Buenos Aires visiting such fascinating cities like Barcelona, Cartagena, Malaga, Casablanca, Agadir, Las Palmas, Porto Grande, Recife, Salvador and Rio de Janeiro before continuing down the sunny Brazilian coast to Buenos Aires and Montevideo!   

For more on Montevideo check out the following link that will take you to a great article posted in the Wall Street Journal.

> http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052748703409304576166963505972244-lMyQjAxMTAxMDAwODEwNDgyWj.html