URUGUAY COUNTRY PROFILE Uruguay borders Argentina to the east, and is also located on the Rio de la Plata adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. This small territory was once part of Argentina but became an independent nation in 1830. Uruguay shares many cultural traditions with Argentina, speaking the same "Rioplatense" Spanish, enjoying similar cuisine (mostly based on beef), and sharing a common musical legacy derived from the Tango and "musica folklore". The visitor could easily think that they are both part of the same country. Even so, their national identities and thus their self-images differ significantly, mostly due to the two countries' difference in size, Argentina having a population of 37 million and Uruguay only 3.4 million. While Argentines tend to have the worldly outlook of a cosmopolitan society, Uruguayans tend to look more inwardly, content with their slower pace and simpler lifestyle. Visiting the two countries thus offers the visitor contrasting experiences. MONTEVIDEO Montevideo, city of 1.4 million people and capital of Uruguay, is a much-smaller version of Buenos Aires and has its own distinct character. A slower pace of life dominates this city. It even has its own beach, Playa Pocitos, which is very popular for cooling off on hot summer afternoons. Montevideo is composed of various neighborhoods, including the Ciudad Vieja (original settlement and historic district), Centro (main business, arts, and shopping area), Pocitos (fashionable and upscale apartments on the beach), Carrasco (leafy affluent suburb) and Cerro (working-class neighborhood and home to the historic fort overlooking Montevideo harbor). Visiting the different "barrios", the visitor begins to get a sense of what Uruguay is all about. COLONIA DEL SACRAMENTO Colonia del Sacramento is located in southwestern Uruguay, on the shores of the Rio de la Plata, a one-hour ferry ride from Buenos Aires. This small city was founded in 1680 as a Portuguese colony and was a significant outpost of that empire in its rivalry with the then-Spanish colony based in Buenos Aires. Today, much of the picturesque original settlement of Colonia remains intact with centuries-old buildings gracing cobblestone streets. Small in scale, tranquil and relaxed, Colonia is a nice change of pace from the hustle and bustle of Buenos Aires and Montevideo. PUNTA DEL ESTE Generally considered the most sophisticated and picturesque summer resort in South America, Punta Del Este is a two-mile long peninsula at the confluence of the Rio de la Plata and the Atlantic Ocean, some ninety miles east of Montevideo. The resort offers plenty of outdoor recreation options including walking, jogging, biking, golf and tennis. Best of all are Punta del Este's beaches. The calm waters of the beaches on the "river" side of the peninsula and the rougher surf of the "ocean" side beaches offer swimming, surfing, fishing and snorkeling options. There is also an interesting cultural opportunity in the neighboring colonial-era town of Maldonado, with its own Spanish-style square dominated by the town's cathedral.