Back into a Spanish speaking country - phew! Ive been in Uruguay 4 days now and its been a funny old time...First I got upgraded to Business class on the plane here to Montevideo from Rio, then the guy sat next to me starting chatting and invited me for lunch at his house - turned out to be the Presdient of the airline I was on!! He whisked me through the queues at immigration and on to the VIP lounge when we landed, thought these type of things only happen to other people!! I checked into a cheap hotel and where I began to feel really ill and I started to get a bit worried. Luckily by the evening I felt better so could enjoy the next few days in Montevideo. I really like this city for some reason! It has a real contrast between beautiful colonial buildings, shabby run down areas and really ugly high rise Soviet style apartment blocks, but the city has a good vibe and the people are friendly. There is an evident European influence here - kisses for greetings and I dont stand out looks wise but. They have a fantastic tradition of 'mate' drinking, everywhere you look poeple are walking around clutching thermos flasks under their arms and sipping through silver straws in ornate looking cups. Its a kind of tea from what I can gather and they are loving it!! The weather has been cooler and changeable and Ive been trying the local cuisine which along with most things here is good, and really cheap. Tomorrow Im heading to to the beach ;) will write again soon!!