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TYPICAL CULTURAL FEATURES
Gaucho
Character related to the origin of the country.
The gaucho has an important symbolic role for his intrepidness
and sense of freedom.
ABOUT
URUGUAY
Uruguay is a country which honors nature and shares
its fruits with pride. With more than 600 kilometers of
coast of soft beaches with pure and white sand, the
ability to experiment freedom is boundless.
All year round, the warm climate allows enjoying
traditional Estancias, historic journeys, thermal spas,
the glamour of Punta del Este, and the versatility of
Montevideo, also known as the Capital of MERCOSUR.
Uruguayans' identity begins with the stories of
European immigrants and is the result of the value
given to relationships between people, living close to
nature and the respect for animals. People are open,
educated, family oriented and they have three great
passions: Asado, Mate and Football.
River of Painted Birds
In indigenous language, “Uruguay” means River of Painted Birds.
Thousands of birds and fishes live in the river surroundings
creating a true reserve, proper of a land where nature is loved.
Candombe
Rhythm and dances born with the arrival of African slaves in the XVIII
century. The rhythm is played with three drums: “Chico”, “Repique” and
“Piano”, ordered from high to low pitch. As for dance, there are four
fundamental characters: “Yuyero”, “Mama Vieja”, “Escobillero” and “Vedette”.
Tango
Urban artistic expression of the River Plate region, of late XIX century and the
beginnings of the XX century. It includes music, singing and dancing, with
bandoneon as the main instrument. Uruguayan Gerardo Matos Rodríguez is
the author of the most famous tango of all times: “La Cumparsita”.
mate
Infusion brought into our land by Guarani indigenous people.
More than a drink, it is a popular widely accepted cultural
phenomenon, passed on from generation to generation to enjoy
with friends.
Truco
Traditional Spanish card game played in the River Plate countries.
As a tactic and strategy duel, truco is an excellent companion for
asado table talk.
candombe
tango
Candombe is an afro-Uruguayan rythm of percussion that is unique in the world.
Over two centuries ago, the ancestors of today´s Uruguayan black community arrived from
Africa as slaves. They were the creators of candombe, a percussion rythm full of sensuality.
Since then, candombe has penetrated in all the Uruguayan social classes and is, together
with Mate, one of the characteristics of Uruguayans.
During the weekends, the “cuerda de tambores” (multiethnic groups that walk through the
streets playing drums) can be heard from all over the city.
The fire with which the drums are tuned is a show in itself. But candombe´s greatest show is
when all the groups of blacks and “lubolos” (white people with black painted faces) march
through the neighborhoods of Barrio Sur and Palermo in the famous “Llamadas”. During
February, people from Montevideo celebrate carnival.
UNDERSTANDING CANDOMBE
COMPARSA
CUERDA
CHICO DRUM
REPIQUE DRUM
PIANO DRUM
ESCOBERO
-
Group that interprets Candombe.
Group of 3 who play 3 drums: “chico”,“repique” and “piano”.
Highest in tune.
The drum that improvises and gives color to the musical style.
Bass like sounds.
African religious character who guides the drums with a broom
with which he sweeps away evil and death.
GRAMILLERO - Old wizard doctor, walks around Mama Vieja with curative leaves
and herbs to expel the evil.
MAMA VIEJA - African character who dances to move death and to enjoy life
and happiness.
Tango -dance and music- is a product of the urban
popular culture of the Río de la Plata. In the ports of
Montevideo and Buenos Aires the milonga
converged with the Andalusian tango, the
Havanan and the African candombe.
The most famous tango, La Cumparsita, is the
creation of a Uruguayan author. Also, the most
emblematic singer, Carlos Gardel, was born in
Uruguay. Even though another version indicates he
was born in Toulouse, France.
In the last decade of the 19th century, there were
several places in Montevideo, where milongones
(an older and simple version of tango) were
danced. These places were called “Academies”, and
most of them were located in the Old City. The
most remembered Academies were around the
Seaport Market and the Plaza Cagancha.
On September, 2009, tango was declared Intangible
Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
TYPICAL CULTURAL FEATURES
Centenario
The Centenario Stadium is a national proud symbol of how passionate
the Uruguayan people are about football (soccer). Inaugurated in
1930 with the 1st FIFA World Cup, its name celebrates the centennial
of Uruguay’s first constitution.
mate
Pericón
Folkloric dance of the River Plate region, very popular in the XIX century.
It has a choreography of 20 figures with 8 couples of dances, who play with
white and light-blue kerchiefs. In Montevideo it was performed for the first
time in 1887.
The legend says that mate was born in the forests between the Amazon River and the Parana
River, when the tupí-guaraníes indigenous people used a wild shrub to calm the fever, to wash
wounds, to alleviate the severe sun burns and to improve humor. They named it kaa-guazú,
meaning great grass.
Many years later, the gauchos of our lands adopted it like their traditional drink, and undoubtedly
Uruguay is the biggest consumer of mate in the world. Uruguayans drink mate day and night,
alone or with others, at work or at the beach, in the bus or in the car.
The mate kit consists of a pumpkin (special container), a metal straw, a thermos with hot water
and yerba, its main ingredient which comes from dried and grated leaves of a plant called Yerba
Mate. The mate is a good reason for Uruguayans to get together just for a chat or comradeship.
The soft noises at the end of each mate (more than three is bad manners), are a signal to pass it
back to the mate maker, who is generally the host.
How to prepare
1 - Pour “yerba” into the mate, filling it up to 2/3 of its volume.
2 - SHAKE THE MATE: Cover it with the palm of your hands,
turn it over and shake it for a few seconds.
3 - MOISTENING THE YERBA: Pour a small amount of
lukewarm water on the emptier side of the mate.
4 - INTRODUCING THE “BOMBILLA”: The metal straw is
introduced in that spot, so that its wider end touches the
bottom of the mate. Then fill up with hot water, which is
then sipped by the drinker.
5 - KEEP THE METAL STRAW CLEAR: After shaking the mate,
the thinnest Yerba mate stays on top and the thick parts
stay at the bottom. This prevents the metal straw from
getting obstructed.
Milonga
Music genre of the River Plate region of African and European influence,
which comes from the gaucho culture. There are two kinds of milonga: the
country version and the urban version. It is related to the Habanera and the
Tango. It is played with a guitar and has no choreography.
murga
Singular attraction of the Uruguayan carnival. Characters with colourful
costumes and artistic make-up sing songs about the most important events
of the year, using humour to make political and social critiques.
ROCK
Through the years, national rock has changed influenced by other
rhythms: candombe, murga, tango and milonga. These fusions gave birth
to a music genre with its own identity and character.
canto popu
It refers to Canto Popular Uruguayo (Uruguayan popular songs), which
emphasizes the value of text and poetry. This musical movement holds that
song lyrics must go beyond mere amusement. Its origins go back to the '60s
and it reached its peak during the '80s.
URUGUAYAN
CUISINE
TYPICAL
DISHES
PARRILLA Contains charbroiled meat ribs, sausages, blood
The 18th century marks the birth of a Creole cuisine
inherited from the gastronomy of Spaniards,
Italians, English, Germans, Armenians, Jewish,
Lebanese and French. During the 19th and the first
half of the 20th century, Uruguayans kept a strong
European gastronomic tradition, but in the decade
of 1970 the Creole revalued itself.
At present , the existence of several gastronomy
schools have placed the national cuisine in an
excellent level.
puddings, bovine offal.
ASADO It can be ordered as “Asado de tira” (bone-in ribs) or
“Pulpa” (boneless).
EMPANADAS Pasties filled with minced meat, ham and cheese, or
other fillings.
CHIVITO Typical Uruguayan sandwich, with slices of meat,
lettuce, tomatoes, ham, cheese, bacon and eggs.
In a country that has 4 cattle head per inhabitant, it is
inevitable that the most popular dish be “asado”.
Consumption of pork, lamb and chicken is also very
common, as well as that of pasta, pizza and “fainá”,
which are strongly established in Uruguayan eating
habits.
Rare / Bleu
Medium Rare / Saignant
Medium / A point
Well Done / Cuit
GENERAL
INFORMATION
Money & Exchange Prices are in pesos uruguayos ($U). Banknote values
are 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 2000. There are
coins of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 50 pesos. The credit cards most
frequently accepted are VISA and MasterCard.
US dollars are commonly accepted in major tourist
hubs. Uruguay has no “black market” offering higher
exchange rates for US and European banknotes. There
are many currency exchange shops distributed
throughout the country (also in Shopping Malls).
Banking Hours Monday to Friday, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. There are plenty
of ATMs all over the country.
Tipping In restaurants, leave 10% of the bill. In taxis, round up
the fare a few pesos.
CLIMATE Mild and humid. During November nights, we suggest
to wear a light coat.
Shopping Mall Hours Monday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Shop Hours
Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays,
from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
(On November 2nd, most of the shops are close due to
All Souls’ Day)
Voltage 220 volts/50Hz
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ABOUT PUNTA
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MALDONADO
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THE FINGERS
This is the most recognized sculpture in Punta del
Este. The hand most commonly known as “Los Dedos”
(the fingers), emerges from the sand in Brava Beach
Parada 4, it was built in February 1982.
It took the Chilean artist Mario Irrazábal six days to
finish his work with a soldering iron and steel rods,
which he then covered with mesh and eight
centimeters of stucco.
rle
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Go
Punta del Este, the most glamorous sea side resort in
South America is located in this department. Its
international flair and beautiful natural surroundings
make visitors always want to come again. Another
interesting sea side resort is Piriápolis, and the Cerro
Pan de Azúcar is also a tourist attraction.
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BUS STATION
HOTEL AJAX
HOTEL SUNSET BEACH
HOTEL CONRAD
GRAND HOTEL
SISAI
AWA
SHOPPING MALL
MARINA