Our first stop in Uruguay was Salto. On crossing the border at about 6.30am after another 10 hour overnight bus trip, there was frost on the ground and we really know that we are heading south now. The days though are usually sunny if a little cold when the wind blows. An oil exploration in Salto many years ago hit upon thermal waters instead and this is now what the town is famous for. The water is pumped into numerous pools that have been built in a park area and despite the cold, it's great to sit in the warm waters there. The locals take their dressing gowns to this outdoor park area and wear then when not in the pools, which maybe doesn't seem too strange but they don't bother to get dressed to go home and you see lots of them wandering around the shops and market stalls still wearing them. They do great steaks in Uruguay as well as Argentina and of course we sampled them here. They are also very cheap, you can get a good steak for about £3 and a bottle of wine costs 60p!

Our next stop was Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay although you wouldn't know it as it is so relaxed and laid back. The locals are friendly and many speak good english. Coming to this country is like stepping back in time to the 1950's or 60's. the cars are ancient and rubbish is collected by horse and cart! They do seem to have a warped sense of time though, the streets are quite empty in the mornings, resturants are empty in the evenings until about 9pm and no-one would dream of turning up to a party until about 2.30am!! Not sure how they manage to keep a job!