Just like in Europe: this city is the most classic and safest in the region

Uruguay, the small and liberal country in the heart of South America, combines rural tranquility of endless cattle farms with extraordinary social progress. The green kingdom, located on the banks of the “Painted Birds” river, is considered a hidden gem that most travelers tend to miss on the route between Brazil and Argentina. It not only amazes visitors with luxurious beaches that look like they were taken from the French Riviera, but also offers a world class in modesty, stable democracy and European traditions deeply rooted in the local Latin culture.

Just before the season of “Race to the Million” (tonight, 9:30 p.m.) reaches the finish line, the couples landed at a destination where reality sometimes seems imaginary: from the president who gave up his palace in favor of an old beetle to the first country in the world to give every child a laptop. This is a place where meat is no less than religious worship, football is the national identity, and time seems to stand still between the picturesque streets of Colonia del Sacramento. Now, when the tension is at its peak and the final is already on the horizon, it’s just the time to get to know the real and fascinating face of Uruguay.

Did you think Argentinians were carnivores? Think again. Uruguay holds the title of the world’s largest consumer of beef per capita. The country has many more cows than people (a ratio of almost 4 cows per person!), and about 60 percent of its land is used for grazing. If you are a steak lover, the “parija” (local grill) in the port of Montevideo is heaven for you.

Jose Mujica, who served as president of Uruguay between 2010 and 2015, became a global icon thanks to his humble lifestyle. He gave up living in the presidential palace in favor of a small, dilapidated farm on the outskirts of the city, donated 90 percent of his salary to charity and drove an old Volkswagen Beetle. For him, civil service was above all else, literally.

Every 29th of the month, Uruguay stops to eat gnocchi. This Italian tradition (almost half of the population is of Italian origin) came from the days when money ran out just before payday, and potato gnocchi was a cheap and satisfying solution. To this day, restaurants serve special gnocchi menus on this date, and the locals place a coin under the plate for luck and wealth.

Uruguay is a world leader in sustainability. Almost 100% of the country’s electricity is produced from renewable sources (mainly wind and water). This revolution happened in less than a decade, making it one of the greenest and cleanest countries on the globe.

Uruguay was the first country in the world to implement the “Computer for Every Child” (OLPC) program. The government distributed a free laptop to every student in public elementary schools, believing that technology and education are the key to reducing social disparities.

Uruguay has the longest national anthem in the world in terms of length of music. The full version takes almost 6 minutes! Because of the length, in most official ceremonies and football games only the chorus and the first verse are sung, but the catchy and dramatic melody is considered one of the most beautiful on the continent.

In the prestigious resort area “Punta del Este” (known as the “Saint Tropez of South America”), there is one of the most famous sculptures in the world: “Le Mano” (The Hand). These are five giant fingers that squeeze the sand and come out of the ground. The statue was originally created as a warning to bathers against the strong currents at the beach, and became the unofficial symbol of the country.

Unlike its neighbors, in Uruguay drinking mate (traditional herbal tea) is a real obsession. The locals don’t move without a thermos and a glass of Mata under their armpits: on the street, on the bus and even in work meetings. For them it is a social ceremony that connects people.

Uruguay is considered the safest country in Latin America, with exceptional political stability. It is also one of the most progressive countries in the world: it was the first to make the production and sale of marijuana completely legal, and it is considered a particularly friendly destination for the LGBT community.

The architecture in Montevideo, the cafes in the old Portuguese colony “Colonia del Sacramento”, and the fact that there is almost no indigenous population left, give Uruguay the feel of a European country at all. Even their Spanish sounds different, with a playful Italian intonation.