NY Times on Uruguay

by Adrienne Wilson on

It always brings me great pleasure to come across travel stories on Montevideo or the country of Uruguay as a whole. South America is a continent I have yet to set foot on, but I’ve always told myself that when I go, Uruguay would be the first stop. You could say I’ve always been attracted to the name mainly, but somewhere deep down inside I have this hunch that Montevideo has a lot to reveal. Reading this NY Times piece on the country certainly confirms many of my own preconceived notions, but a flight over would seal the deal.

In their piece they point potential visitors to the National History Museum to start. From the museum walk your way to the Palacio Taranco, a sprawling castle from 1910 with stone urns and Roman arches. Beyond all, the story goes to say that design geeks will be pleased to find that design is growing and growing. Wander the town and scope out the graffiti in Plaza Independencia or the odd building known as Palacio Salvo. I could tell you more, but if you’re as interested in visiting Uruguay as I am, you’ll probably want to do yourself the favor of reading it on your own. I didn’t even get to the half of it, plus NY Times also serves you the 411 on getting down there.

Word for the Travel Wise (09/10/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Okay, everyone – big sigh of relief this week. I’m departing from languages of the Silk Road to return to some you may actually try to learn further than my everyday Gadling feature. Today I point your attention to Uruguay’s thermal waters as featured on the front page of their tourism site. Perfect place to head if you’re planning an early escape from North American winters. Go check it out.

Today’s word is a Spanish word from Uruguay:

nadar – swim

Amerispan, Cactus Language and IMAC are all good starting points to learning abroad. A free membership at Spanish Unlimited gives you the opportunity to learn a new word everyday by email, gain pen pals and hear audio of the words. Their website is actually a good resource tool for many different Spanish related topics. I won’t even begin to list some of the texts out there that could further your studies because there are entirely too many. If you know of some language books that would be useful please feel free to list them.

Past Spanish words: escalar, cercano, realidad, enfermo, jalar

Miracle in the Andes: Rugby Players Eating Rugby Players

by Neil Woodburn on

Whenever I go backpacking with friends, the conversation occasionally comes around to who we’d have to eat if a storm blew in and we became stranded.  It’s been generally accepted that my buddy Kevin would be too gamey, so he’s out.  And I’m a little too lean to provide any type of worthwhile sustenance, so I’m at the bottom of the list as well.  So I got that going for me.

Such horror became reality for a Uruguayan rugby squad and their family and friends when the plane they were traveling on crashed into the Andes in 1972.  Of course, the tragedy was made into the bestselling book Alive and later, a popular movie.  The book was written by a journalist, however.  It’s a fascinating read and rather gory at times, but nonetheless put together by an outsider who was not there.

Now, for the first time, one of the survivors has penned an account of his own experience on the mountaintop. Nando Parrado, who lost his mother and sister in the crash, has waited 34 years to tell his story of what happened during those 72 days of freezing, starving, and… eating.  This harsh reality of what really happens when a plane crashes makes Lost look like some absurdist fairy tale. 

Outside Magazine has printed an introductory excerpt of Miracle in the Andes which you can find here.  The book itself was released May 9th so check your local bookstore. 

Outside Magazine Preview: Miracle in the Andes

by Adrienne Wilson on

Nando Parrado’s story on the 72 days spent in the
Andes and the long trek home may not have hit book shelves yet, but it has most certianly hit my heart. Outside magazine has an exclusive excerpt from Miracle in the
Andes in their current issue with only a small fraction of the piece available online. For me the story is still
fairly new, others may vaguely remember, some might find it hard to forget, but Outside names it one of the greatest
epics of all time. The year was 1972 when a plane carrying a young Uruguayan rugby squad crashed in the Andes leaving
the survivors stranded and forcing them to subsist on the bodies of their friends. Nando Parrado, hero of the saga,
tells the awe-inspiring tale 34 years later in his book Miracle in the Andes to
hit shelves on May 9, 2006. If the piece found online isn’t enough for you make sure you scoop up the latest Outside
for more or check out the Q&A
with the author who touches on his recent return to the crash site, the book & movie Alive, as well his strange attraction to ice axes and
crampons.