YouTube video of Uruguayan photographer

Gary Kuhn has shared a video produced by/about an Uruguayan artist who plans to come to Minnesota this fall, Ignacio Guani.

Tourism to Uruguay Breaking Records

Uruguay is the champion in tourism in Latin America, according to Latin Business Chronicle's Latin Tourism Index. Tourism arrivals account for a whopping 61.4 percent of Uruguay's population. The index of 15 countries in Latin America shows the total impact of tourism in a country by measuring receipts as a percent of GDP and arrivals per capita using 2009 data.

Moody's places Uruguay on review for possible upgrade as credit profile improves

This is good news for Uruguay. Costs of borrowing go down, investment climate improves, etc. Something for many other countries in the world to emulate....


New York, July 15, 2010 -- Moody's Investors Service has placed the government of Uruguay Ba3 local- and foreign-currency bond ratings on review for possible upgrade. Moody's decision to initiate this review was prompted by (1) evidence that the global crisis has had a limited impact on the country's economic and financial outlooks; (2) a track record of declining government debt ratios which have become aligned with peer group medians; (3) signs that economic policy continuity will be preserved by the incoming Mujica administration; and (4) Uruguay's reduced exposure to
regional shocks....

Soda or pop? Does it matter?

Whether you're from Minnesota where we say "pop" or Wisconsin where "soda" rules, you'll be able to tip back and swig the tastiest drinks at Eagle River, Wisconsin's, Soda Pop's. I'm a sucker for quirky places where singular passions reign. It doesn't hurt that I'll take soda pop from a glass bottle any day of the week over a humble can.

I'm also old enough to remember the 1980s fad of soda pop places where you could buy mix-and-match crates loaded with any flavor under the sun, from pineapple to green apple.

Those places are long gone, but Soda Pop's brings together every soda pop you can think of much like the best pubs assemble the greatest microbrews. You can find old-school Coca-Cola, Green River, Nehi orange, cherry limeade and close to 150 others. Don't miss grabbing some Sprecher root beer, a complex dark brew sweetened with a good kick of local honey. It's delicious. You can also make this one of those vacation-perfect lunch stops with the store's soda fountain. It's a great fit for an area that bustles with three (or more) generations of vacationers making summer memories together.

Feed the bears in Minocqua
Soda Pop's is in downtown Eagle River, 27 miles east of Mincoqua, the hub of all things "up north" in Wisconsin (much the way Brainerd is Minnesota's epicenter for lake vacations). It's easy to take a break from the water and go explore area towns and tucked-away treasures such as Soda Pop's.

Left: Lake Minocqua's vintage boathouses glow at sunset--the ideal time for a pontoon cruise.

Right in Minocqua and a true delight for kids is Wildwood Wildlife Park. It seems too modest of a name for what’s an impressive zoo with close to 700 animals. It has that homey feel of a place that's family-run, too, where relationships with the animals get personal. Kids love feeding ravenous goats and sheep, watching otters play, and seeing exotic animals such as tigers. The biggest stars, though, are often the bears as they swim in a pool and greedily guzzle the custom “bear juice.” It's probably the one glass-bottled sweet drink you won't find at Soda Pop's. The Wildwood folks make their own blend of juice that they bottle. You can purchase it from a vending machine and feed the bears through a secure fence ($8-$12; 715-356-5588).

Read about more of my vacations picks for a Mincoqua-area getaway--from an Objibwe living history site to some of the best pancakes you'll ever taste--at www.startribune.com/lifestyle/97669074.html.

Federico Estol Photographs Small Town Life in Minnesota

Patrick sent us more press coverage of Federico Estol's work to photograph Montevideo, Minnesota. Here's the latest article.

Patrick Moore sent us this link today about Federico Estol's visit to Montevideo, Minnesota:

"Small-town celebration about to get one mighty audience"

Sports, Arts Committees Converge!

Gary Kuhn forwarded the image below, a play on Punta Del Este's famous "Los Dedos" sculpture and last week's handball infraction at the end of the game by the UY player Suarez -- "and yet amazingly they won!" Gary noted.