Mar 6, 2012

(MIAMI, FL, March 2012) – LAN Airlines, South America’s premier carrier, and its affiliates invite passengers to celebrate the arrival of springtime by booking a trip to South America. Savvy travelers can get a head start on planning a summer getaway this year by taking advantage of LAN Airlines and its affiliates’ low fares on travel taking place from

A town about 120 kilometres (two hours by bus), Minas is a small city with a small, but loud, plaza. There are roughly 35,000 inhabitants, and the city set up is like many others in Uruguay. But then you notice on the outskirts of town that you are surrounded by hills. After being here in very flat Uruguay for nearly five months, these hills looked more like the

A few years ago I tasted the most amazing, soft, juicy, buttery meat I have ever experienced. I asked for my meat to be cooked as raw as possible, and I was delighted with the results. This was in Salta, Argentina. Being here in Uruguay for 4 months I have been expecting to find similar results due to the cows being the same breed and eating from the same

I have been torn many times on what to do. I sit on a bus, hear some guy singing horribly, and then he approaches the passengers for a few coins. The voice bothered me, the ambiance of the ride changed for the worse while the tunes were belted out, but I know that this guy is hurting for cash and trying his best to make ends meet. Should I give him money?  How

It’s the longest Carnival in the world – 40 days of party right? I had my reservations…what kind of place (and who) could join festivities for 40 days straight? Impossible. But I have been proven wrong, once again. And last night I experienced my favorite Carnival times thus far. I’ve gone to the opening Inaugural Parade, the

Hostels are a beautiful way to get to know a new place.  Most times the owners/workers enjoy sharing views on their respective cities or towns (unlike some of the hotels I have occasionally stayed at).  And they do so without expecting tips as well. But one of the best feelings while traveling happens when I find a fantastic hostel.  This doesn’t mean

There is more than one style of Carnival performers competing for the best group title here in Montevideo, Uruguay.  We have the murga groups who sing and dance (a little, and a little strangely) about current issues…many times focused on political themes.  The humoristas who are the funny guys (and occassional girls) not as focused on singing. Then we

The festivities where scheduled to begin last night for one of (if not the) longest Carnival celebrations in the world.  But something(one) upstairs was not ready to start; hence the strongest downpour of rain that I have seen here in the past 3 months arrived…along with the strongest wind. But don’t fret, these Montevideans are not giving up and

I have been hearing about this beach town since I arrived here in Montevideo.  From everything I heard, it sounded like a Miami in Uruguay.  I had to go, clearly. 2 hours outside of Montevideo rests the town of Punta del Este.  During the months of January and February the place is packed with people – a lot of Brazilians and Argentines.  People here

A lot of my friends headed for the beaches of Punta del Este or Rocha for Uruguay’s New Year times.  But I had heard of the spectacle here in town.  From everything I heard, on the day of the 31st the Mercado del Puerto sounded like a soggy version of Marti Gras in New Orleans. I say soggy because the whole day involved people pouring, throwing, or

It was New Year time, and there was no other place I was looking to be than in Montevideo.  And more specifically at the Mercado del Puerto area in Ciudad Vieja.  Everything that I heard about the day of the 31st (yes, the celebrations start at noon in the daytime) led me to believe that I would be experiencing my second Marti Gras-like experience.  I

So the festivities are all done here in Uruguay.  And these people thoroughly enjoy their chance to let loose – specifically letting loose of their fireworks.  If I were magically transported to Uruguay on Christmas Eve without knowing where I had been placed, had no sense of time of the year, and the people around me were speaking American English, I

I haven’t been able to watch much television here in Uruguay, but of the programs I have seen, their version (actually Argentina’s version but it is widely viewed here as well) of Dancing with the Stars is by far the most memorable.  For a couple of reasons: 1) Not only is it on every night, but there are a few shows in the following day that go

I am not speaking of the country’s geographical size (that of Missouri, if you are curious).  But rather in their detail to life, taking it easy, and at times appreciating the simpler side to the day. Specific examples: 1) Yesterday I walked through the  main Plaza of Independencia on my way home.  A young boy kicked his soccer ball a bit too hard and

I grew up about an hour and a half from Mexico’s border…and the border town of Tijuana.  Yes, I made desultory visits to this town when underage to, um, check out the local artisan crafts.  But the point being that I arrived speaking a Mexican Spanish with a Gringo (or Yankee as they say down here) twist.  I pronounced the double