The national flag of Uruguay.
The flag originally had more blue bands, but the number was reduced to make it easier to see at sea.
The sun's rays have alternating wavy and straight lines.
Where is the country?
South American
Yes, Uruguay is in South America, most people know, but what else should you know? Firstly, since it is south of the equator, the seasons are the reverse of countries to the north. Uruguay's summer, or warm weather in our northern winter (UK, USA, Europe), whilst Uruguay's cool weather is in our summer.
Map of Uruguay
East
The Country's full name is Republic of Oriental Uruguay, including the word oriental, which I associate with what I still think of as the Far East. But oriental just means east. Uruguay is on the south east coast of South American. The waters are the Atlantic Ocean.
Coast
Coast? Yes, Uruguay is on the coast.
To the north is Brazil. Like Brazil, Uruguay has beautiful beaches.
Landmark photo spot, sculpture on the beach, La Mano de Punta del Este.
Sculpture - La Mano de Punta del Este
The Hand of the Tip Of The East. Popular photo spot. It is a warning that the local waves are more suitable for surfing, so swimmers should go to another beach.
The Chilean sculptor who had come to Uruguay to participate in a sculpture contest, later made another similar sculpture in the desert in Chile.
Carnival
Like Brazil, Uruguay has a carnival. In fact Uruguay has a long carnival. Not just three days like the Bank Holiday Notting Hill Carnival in London.
Food In and From Uruguay
A local everyday food, the national dish, is Chivito, a calorie laden upmarket version of burger with a difference, filet mignon steak slice with added egg, cheese, bacon, ham and olives or salad, though you can order a version without the bun just on the plate.
Wine and Wineries
Lots of wineries. You can buy Uruguay wines from Marks & Spencer, and Hedonism shop in central London.
In Uruguay, a good place to match the local food and wine would be in a winery Restaurant, such as at Bodega Garzon.
Expats, spouses, descendants, importers, tourists or wellwishers, from Uruguay in the UK can buy from Amazon a tee-shirt which says in Spanish I am (soy) Uruguan, Raised on Chivito, or I'd rather be in Uruguay, with a Spanish flag in the shape of the country.
Side Trips For Food
The country has more cattle than people. Up north towards Brazil is cowboy country with ranches.
The Fray Bentos former meat canning site closed down but is now a UNESCO site and museum.
Wiki informs me
The "Fray Bentos" brand is now owned in the UK by Baxters, which manufactures the product range in Scotland. The Campbell Soup Company manufactures and sells Fray Bentos-branded steak and kidney pies in Australia. I can buy Fray Bentos pies in the UK from Morrisons supermarket, Waitrose, and from Amazon, which all show the tin. Baxters website shows the pie once cooked.
Population
The population is small. 3.5 to 4.5 million. Less than London and many main cities.
Capital - Montevideo
More than half the population, about two million people, live in the largest city and capital, Montevideo.
Language
The language is Spanish.
The restaurant menu for the Bodega Garzon winery was in Spanish with the Portuguese translation under each item listed. Bodega Garzon is the second of the top two largest wine producers in Portugal, according to my husband.
He is presenting Uruguayan wines to the Central London Wine Society. Enquiries and booking through Meetup.
Religion in Uruguay
About half the population are Roman Catholic, or Christian. However, the country is secular. Uruguay was one of the first countries to recognize the state of Israel.
Differences from Paraguay
Uruguay has a seaside but Paraguay is land locked. Uruguay had an influx of foreigners and European influence but Paraguay preserved an indigenous population and the language Guarani.
In the UK on September 2nd 2026 I was offered £5 off my first order if I signed up to Hedonism.
The Irurtia family offered me a free glass of wine for signing up, but I would have to go to Uruguy. Once there I could drive west to see them. It takes about six hours to drive across the country non stop south to north or east to west. About the size of England and Wales, my husband says like driving to Edinburgh from London in a day, feasible in theory, but you would want to stop overnight half way, and preferably extend to two to four days to make a couple of special stops, one each morning, one each afternoon, with either a leisurely lunch or an evening dinner, or 6 days to do it properly and leisurely. Day trips by ferry, an hour each way, come from Rio in neighbouring Brazil.
Useful Websites About Uruguay
tripadvisor
wikipedia
wikivoyage travel uruguay
wikivoyage phrasebook Spanish
Uruguayan Wines Sold In the UK
Restaurant Menu & Wines At Bodega Garzon in Uruguay
Restaurant of the Deicas Family
Irurtia Family
https://enoturismocarmelo.com.uy/en/wineries/familia-irurtia
UK Uruguyan Food
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I also have posts on learning and translating Spanish and menu translations. Please share links to your favourite posts.
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