LearnSpanishandSurf.com Uruguay Experience

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LearnSpanishandSurf.com Uruguay Experience

July 14th, 2011 | Uruguay - Adventure, Uruguay - Travel Tips | No Comments »

This is a Guest post from LearnSpanishandSurf.com

Uruguay, a small country in South America, known to many as the heart-shaped country is a land of beautiful coastlines, reaching well over 120 miles as well as being one of the hottest spots for surfers. The country alone is a popular spot for tourism individuals looking to learn the Spanish language and to explore their waters. The folks at LearnSpanishandSurf.com offer Spanish immersion programs at great surfing locations in South America, which, Uruguay being one of their more popular immersion programs.

LearnSpanishandSurf.com offers a Spanish immersion and surfing programs in La Paloma. An area of Uruguay filled with picturesque beaches is the perfect place to perfect the Spanish language and learn Read more

New Decree About Permanent Residency in Uruguay

August 31st, 2009 | Uruguay - Business, Uruguay - News, Uruguay - Relocation, Uruguay - Travel Tips | 2 Comments »

On August 24th a new Presidental Decree was posted that concerns all foreigners residing in Uruguay. The official Decree is posted on the Presidential Departments web-page, in Spanish, as a PDF, found at the following link: http://www.presidencia.gub.uy/_web/decretos/2009/08/EC1320%20.pdf

Although there aren’t too many changes to the process, it is exciting to see that the “carnet de salud” which entitles ones with a low enough income to free health care in public hospitals, is now available to both legal residents and non-resident foreigners. If a foreigner has sufficient means, they wil be enrolled in the “mutualista” program just as Uruguayan foreign nationals.

While many foreigners have been taking advantage of this system for a long time, it is good to Read more

Celebrate the Good Old Days with La Noche de Nostalgia

July 27th, 2009 | The Best of Uruguay, Uruguay - Culture, Uruguay - Family Friendly, Uruguay - Must See or Do, Uruguay - Nightlife, Uruguay - Travel Tips | 1 Comment »

We are one month away from celebrating the Declaration of Independence, a national, non working holiday observed in Uruguay yearly on the 25th of August. One of the best parts of not going to work on the 25th, means that on the 24th you have plenty of time to party! No need to think about waking up for work the next morning.

Rumor has it, over 20 years ago a local am radio DJ started “La Noche de la Nostalgia” (The Nostalgia Night), a party where only old hits would be played. Since that first famed night, year after year the country has grown to celebrate hold hits, with music, costumes, and celebrations on the night of August 24th, a day Read more

The Cost of Living in Uruguay

July 20th, 2009 | The Best of Uruguay, Uruguay - Business, Uruguay - Family Friendly, Uruguay - Relocation, Uruguay - Travel Tips | 6 Comments »

What is the cost of living in Uruguay? Well, for many it depends on where and how they live. What is for certain is that right now 1 US dollar is equal to about 23 Uruguayan pesos, which is better than it was last year.

The Big Gringo travels Central and South America trying out new things and reporting back to you – my faithful readers – so that you might enjoy your travels. Here is some information you might also find valuable:
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Bringing in Household Items Duty-Free

July 16th, 2009 | Uruguay - Business, Uruguay - Relocation, Uruguay - Travel Tips | 1 Comment »

Relocating to Uruguay and trying to find accurate, up-to-date information on the internet regarding laws and policies can be extremely difficult. Sometimes even the Uruguay government sites and consulate sites can have conflicting information.

From a reliable source, attorney Mark Teuten, we have learned something about bringing household items duty-free. He states:

article 2 of Decree No. 119/004, which regulates Law No. 16.340 states that household goods, in reasonable quantities according to the opinion of the Custom’s authorities, can be brought in free of tax within 6 months of the grant of permanent residence.

Cara are not included in this, and it means only for the first 6 months after you have been approved for your residency, not during Read more

Real Chinese Food in Uruguay!

July 9th, 2009 | Uruguay - Business, Uruguay - Family Friendly, Uruguay - Gringo Favorite, Uruguay - Places to Eat, Uruguay - Travel Tips | 1 Comment »

Hooray for Chinese food that is actually somewhat like Chinese food in South America!

As an extensive traveler I have found that Chinese food is actually a staple restaurant in most countries. In that statement, I use the term “Chinese food” quite loosely. What most restaurants serve up (even if you see a Chinese cook in the back) is what residents of the local country think Chinese food should taste like. You can imagine this is pretty frustrating for a Gringo who grew up pointing to items on the menu because the waiter didn’t speak any English.

Gran China, which is located on San Jose 1077 between Rio Negro and Paraguay in Centro actually does real Chinese food. The flavors Read more

What to Pack to Uruguay

January 22nd, 2009 | Uruguay - Travel Tips | 1 Comment »

People relocating always bring too much stuff and the ones who manage to bring a reasonable amount usually bring things of little importance and leave some of the small essentials back home.

I have seen it time and time again: people (those with families in particular) think that they should virtually disassemble their home in the States and reestablish it in whatever country they are moving to. This is not the best way to do things.

Uruguay Weather – Enjoy all Four Seasons

January 6th, 2009 | Uruguay - Relocation, Uruguay - Travel Tips | 2 Comments »

One of my favorite things about Uruguay is the weather. In comparison to other countries where you can retire, I find the four seasons pretty refreshing. (Compare Uruguay with countries like Costa Rica with 6 months of dry weather and 6 months of unstoppable rain, and you can see why Uruguay weather, in my opinion, is so much better.)

In Montevideo the temperature has a pretty wide range, going below freezing just a couple days a year and above 90F/32C only about a week a year. The biggest difference is that since Uruguay is in the Southern hemisphere the seasons are opposite, putting Christmas in the summer, Easter in the Autumn, Halloween falls in the Spring and the Independence day Read more

How do I know if Relocating to Uruguay is Right for me?

December 30th, 2008 | Uruguay - Relocation, Uruguay - Travel Tips | No Comments »

So you are seriously considering moving to Uruguay, but you still can’t quite decide if it is the right place for you. There are plenty of sources out there telling you all the wonderful things about Uruguay, but… how do you know it matches your needs? What reasons are there not to come to Uruguay?

Here are few thoughts to consider before deciding to make the move:

Learn Spanish! It will help you decide which beach to visit in Punta del Este

December 16th, 2008 | Uruguay - Must See or Do, Uruguay - Travel Tips | No Comments »

Time for a mini-Spanish lesson!

What does Mansa mean?

What does Brava mean?

Knowing the translations of those words will help you decide which beach, or Playa, you want to visit on the peninsula of Punta del Este, Uruguay.