Punta del Este, last days

Florin PaunNext to the curio shop is also a small cannabis museum. Uruguay was the first country in South America to legalize the consumption of cannabis. Interestingly, although I spent two weeks here, I rarely saw the consumption of cannabis in public spaces. I have not seen anyone intoxicated or stoned on the street (because THC, alcohol or anything else; in Western Europe it is sad to say a familiar landscape). People seem very "normal", down to earth, well educated, polite. This is probably one of the reasons why many retirees with a good financial situation choose to live as expats in Uruguay.

Florin PaunMate is a traditional herbal drink, rich in caffeine. It is prepared by soaking dried leaves of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) in hot water. The infusion is traditionally drunk with a metal straw (bombilla - like this word!) from a container that was traditionally made from a calabash gourd (pictured in the middle; now made of metal). The drink is very popular in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. Many people go for a walk with a bowl of mate and a thermos in which they carry hot water to renew the consumed drink. Drawing from my imagination, I observed the vessels in the museum and on the street.

Florin PaunI took this panoramic photo while standing on a small sand dune. The vast stretch of almost untouched fine sand (just one person lying on the ground near the lifeguard's hut) left a strong impression on me. Here only the sound of the waves, the gentle wind and the fantastic play of assorted colors in shades of blue and yellow-ochre are present. It's a great privilege to admire this magnificent marine landscape, far from the daily routine and the endless crowds that we are so used to.