Montevideo, Uruguay Travel Guide

Uruguay is dwarfed by Argentina and Brazil but this South American country is slowly emerging from the shadows cast by its neighbors. Montevideo is the country’s capital, and it is now becoming one of the top destinations in the continent. With its flat coastline and grassy plains, Uruguay keeps a low profile naturally. It is an unhurried place where modern development and colonial architecture balance each other out.

In the past years, Montevideo has made a name for itself as one of South America’s most livable cities with free education for all and advanced social policies. If you add the miles of beaches boulevards, pleasant sea breezes, and temperate climate, you will understand why this city was bound to be noticed.

From Montevideo’s Telecommunications Tower in the harbor, you can see the lone hill that first gave away this country’s presence about 500 years ago. With the Spanish yearning to expand Argentina and the Portuguese claiming the land for Brazil, both nations quickly forged strategic fortresses and ports. This rivalry led to a war that lasted for more than three centuries, with Uruguay slipping in and out of the grips of Brazil and Argentina.

Visit the mausoleum in Plaza Independencia for Jose Artigas a revolutionary hero who gave up his freedom for the liberty of his country. Above the ground, his statue faces the Palacio Salvo eclectic design. This skyscraper was once the tallest on the continent and it is still a national pride.

The Plaza Matriz is the oldest square in the city and you will find an 18th-century Metropolitan Cathedral reaching for the skies. Step inside and enjoy a moment of quiet contemplation under the majestic roof. Although this Catholic church is still this city’s focal point, the multicultural locals are of many faiths. With Spanish and Portuguese blood running through their veins, it is no surprise soccer is a unifying factor of the ‘Montevideanos’.

Sports rivalries apart, the locals live in harmony with their Brazilian and Argentinean neighbors and were quick to embrace their culture, hospitality, and architecture. Ever since the colonial days, Carnival has been as important to this city as it is to Rio. It all started with African slaves just like in Brazil who dressed up and paraded on the streets for harvest fest.

You can also get a taste of Brazil’s vibrant beach culture in the Uruguayan capital. Take a little break from exploring the city and join the locals for a fun game or a refreshing swim on De Los Pocitos Beach. If you need further proofs that Uruguay combines the best of both worlds, join the locals at Mercado del Puerto for lunch. From the barbecue smells coming from its roof, it is clear that Uruguayans are as passionate as the Argentineans about “parilla”. First, choose from cuts of home-grown lamb or beef at a market stall before having the experts grill for you on the spot.

Although Uruguay may be small, its relaxing vibe and the big heart will help you create a lifetime of memories. Every time you see the outline of a setting sun, get a whiff of a smoking grill and feel a sea breeze, you will smile when you think of Uruguay.

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Top 3 Reasons Why You Should Go Hiking This Week

There is absolutely no doubt about it – hiking is one of the most interesting things that any traveler could do in their life. Whether your goal is to reduce stress, lose weight, or simply clear your head, it is safe to say that hiking delivers almost immediate rewards. If you haven’t been living a totally disappointing life, packing your stuff and going hiking should not be a hard thing to do. If you don’t have the motivation to get off your couch, then you should definitely find it, because hiking offers some truly amazing benefits. One of the most important benefits of hiking is that it is a very healthy activity. Although the amount of hiking-specific research is constantly growing, it is pretty much safe to say that hiking is one of the healthiest things that you can do these days!

Hiking Is Healthy
The American Hiking Society says that hiking is an activity that delivers an amazing amount of health benefits. Perhaps the best things about hiking is the fact that it doesn’t involve too many risks. You can use hiking to stay physically active, reduce the risk of heart disease, lose weight and decrease hypertension, as well as to slow the aging process. Hiking can help reduce both stress and anxiety, which is great for your mental well-being.

Hiking Is Not Too Expensive
Compared to just about any other sport out there, the amount of money that you need to spend on a good hiking equipment is relatively low. This is because you don’t need to have a whole lot of stuff to go hiking. All you need is a pair of boots, some proper clothing items, and a comfortable backpack. As you can see, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to head out on a hike.

Hiking Is Pretty Simple
Do you know what makes hiking such a good thing? The true beauty of hiking lies in the fact that this activity is actually an extension of something that we all do each and every single day. Hiking allows you to control the pace of your workout. The more you hike, the more skills you develop.

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What To Pack For Your First-Ever Trip To Ireland

There is absolutely no doubt that Ireland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. It is at the top of the list for one of the favorite travel spots for the owners of Performance Chiropractic + Sports Rehab to visit. Ireland has it all – from adventure, to beautiful castles, to gorgeous farms and interesting city life. Keep in mind that these are just some of Ireland’s most interesting tourist attractions, since this country has so much more to offer than just that. For example, Ireland is mostly known for its lively pubs and beautiful scenery. But let’s not forget about Ireland’s buskers either! So, who are buskers? Buskers are Ireland’s own street musicians. Another thing that make this country so interesting are its friendly and charming people. If you spend enough time in the countryside, there is a big chance that you will see a rainbow after a storm. You might also be able to find a leprechaun and a pot of gold – who knows, right?

So, what is the best time to visit this beautiful country? If you want to see Ireland in its most beautiful colors, then you should definitely pay this beautiful country a visit either during the spring or fall. This way, you will have the biggest chance to catch the middle ground of Ireland’s always changing weather. With that said, whether you want to check out some of Ireland’s most popular bars or you just want to explore its beautiful greenery, there are some things that you definitely need to take with you if you want your trip to go as smoothly as possible. And now, here are some of those things!

Walking Shoes
If you are going to take only one pair of shoes with you, you should definitely go for a sturdy pair of sneakers. Whether you are strolling through the streets of Dublin or exploring the Blarney Castle, it is safe to say that you can see a lot of Ireland by foot. Make sure to separate your sneakers from the rest of your clothing items in your travel backpack, since there will probably be a lot of dirt on them before the trip ends.

Raincoat
Raincoat is one of the most important things that you need to pack for your first-ever trip to Ireland. This is because Ireland gets a lot of rain each year. Also, don’t forget to bring your portable umbrella with you either.

Reusable Shopping Bag
Having a reusable shopping bag in your backpack is always a good idea. This is especially the case when you are exploring the streets of Dublin. Not only are reusable shopping bags very useful, but they are good for the environment as well.

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The Guide To Planning a Safe Solo Trip

There are so many different reasons why some people love to travel alone. If you have just experienced some sort of loss and are looking for a way to reflect, or if you just want to go on a journey of self-discovery, a solo trip around the world might be just what you need to make the situation better. Is there an area of the world that you have always wanted to visit, but your travel buddy simply doesn’t want to go with you? Or maybe you just have enough time and money to go on a vacation, so you have decided to do just that? Whatever the case may be, the solution is very simple – all you need to do is go on a solo trip. Traveling alone is a great way to fully immerse yourself in another culture, and it also provides you with a chance to meet new people along the way!

Choosing Your Own Adventure
When it comes to taking an organized trip around the world, you need to know that almost every single moment is already planned for you. What this means is that you get to travel in a group with a professional guide, and as a result, you are given an itinerary that you need to follow. Taking an organized trip is the safest option for beginners, because getting lost is pretty much impossible.

A partially organized trip combines some alone time with some organized time. For example, you can go on a group hike in the morning, and then have the rest of the day to explore the area on your own. That being said, a partially organized trip gives you a chance to visit all the major tourist attractions and still have time for your own adventures. Just remember that you need to be extra careful when taking a partially organized trip.

And finally, if you want to travel alone 100% of the time, you will have total control over your days. Traveling alone provides you with the best chance to get out of your comfort zone. However, this form of solo travel is pretty risky as well. And now, here is one tip for you – stay away from dark alleys at night!

Some Tips That You Need To Know
Make sure to stay away from suspicious areas at night. Pay some extra attention to your surroundings when exploring unfamiliar areas. Also, make sure to carry important documents in a money belt underneath your shirt. This way, you protect your documents from thieves.

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What You Need To Do When Traveling To a New Place?

Sometimes, traveling takes a lot of effort. This is especially the case when you travel alone, because you are in charge of everything, including everything from planning your destination to how you are going to get there, as well as how much money you are going to spend once you arrive at your destination. And on top of that, there is one more thing that you need to do before you actually hit the road – prepare yourself mentally for the experience. That being said, there is absolutely no doubt that traveling can be a pretty tough task sometimes, which is why it can take a whole lot of effort, even if you are an experienced world traveler.

It is safe to say that when you are on the road, you want to have as much fun as possible, right? You want to take good selfies, meet new people, and simply have fun throughout the whole trip. While having fun is never a bad thing, your safety should be your top priority, so make sure to always keep that in the back of your mind. With that said, here are some things that you should always do when traveling to a new place!

Meet New People

Probably the first thing that you want to do when visiting a new place is get to know the area, right? Well, if that is the case, there is no better way to do so than by speaking to locals. That is because those people have actually spent their entire childhood in that place, which means that they should know pretty much everything that there is to know about it.

Try Their Food

Every country has a special type of food that it is known for. Although you have already tried a certain type of food at your local restaurant, it just cannot be prepared to the original dish. Trying out new types of food should always be on your to-do list when going to a new place.

Enjoy the Weather

When it comes to traveling to a new place, you certainly don’t want to complain about bad weather. If you are going to be climbing up a popular mountain, you already know that the weather is not going to be very nice up there, so don’t complain about it once you get to the top of that mountain. Instead of complaining about it, you should actually enjoy the weather!

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