Buenos dias! Have now been in Uruguay for the last week or so. The first thing that we have noticed is that it is bloody cold! Actually it's not that cold I guess (5 to 15 degrees) but after enjoying a summer that began in December in NZ, we are really feeling it! Can?t complain though as it is beautiful here in Autumn with all the usual autumn colours and smells. We caught an overnight bus from Porto Alegre (Brazil) and thought it would be a good idea to get dropped off en route at Punta del Diablo (just inside the Uruguay border). The man selling the bus tickets assured me that the bus would drop us off within close walking distance to Punta.....). So at 5.30am the bus suddenly stopped on the side of the road and the driver intimated that we should get off. As it is coming in to winter it is pitch black and pretty cold. The driver points the general direction and we set off on foot with backpacks attached. After walking the advised short distance (about 5kms!), we arrived as it was getting light. Yes it was a beautful place, rugged coast and small holiday homes much like you would see at a remote NZ beach. Unfortunately nobody was there!! So, within three hours we were hopping on the first available bus out of there and heading for Monetvideo...ha ha ha! Montevideo could easily be a European city. Quite a pleasant change actually....wine, cheese and many good restaurants. Oh, and amazing Parillas (bar be ques) wtih slab upon slab of meat (chicken, pork, chorizo, udders, bowels etc and supposedly some of the best beef in the world). We enjoyed the change and got a little carried away with the cheap wine and beef, but once you have had one of their steaks you just can't stop! We have now made our way across to Colonia del Sacremento (about 3 hrs west of Montevideo), a beautiful, quaint little town. Relaxing here for a couple of days and then catching a ferry (tomorrow) to Buenos Aires where we will base ourselves for the next couple of weeks. Hope all are well. Love Shane and Sarah