Ola Uruguay Real Estate and Investments

I am so struck by Uruguay today. To me, there is just something different about the way the Uruguayans have celebrated their “heroes” of the World Cup. From the welcome home the team received today, no one would believe Uruguay did not win the whole thing. Maybe I am just more used to fanatical fans of U.S. pro or college teams. The energy here in UY is not just focused on the team and the players, but the whole nation. As my daughter recently shared from her experience, when an Uruguayan moves forward, they do what it takes to pull their friends, family, and campaneros up with them. They think “together” and of “togetherness”. It seems when these players succeeded, the whole country and all of its people shared the triumph intimately.

Although we are not usually huge ”futbol” fans, we were excited about going to Montevideo to share with our new country this grand event of welcoming home the Uruguayan team. For 4.5 hours the bus of players slowly made its way along a route that usually takes about 20 mins. Because we came early, we decided to return to an area close to the starting point and drove along parallel to the route until we saw a substantial gathering of people. Easy. We ended up in Carrasco, just outside Montevideo, along with Uruguayans of all ages dressed in and bearing countless national flags. It was a sea of celeste. What schools did not close for the day brought kids to the event. Uruguay has not been in the top four of the World Cup since 1970. They last won in 1950, and before that, 1930. This was an event for generations to enjoy—and they did. Singing, fireworks, banners, music, bands, balloons…and people and people and people. So proud.

There we banners saying “Gracias”—thank you for helping us find our voices; thank you for the pride we feel; thank you for playing with all of your hearts; thank you for your courage. Planes flew above also bearing such messages, as children held homemade banners. When the bus finally arrived, people had waited hours together for what would pass in a matter of minutes. The decorated bus slowly crept through the crowd, no bands or accessories, just what was important. The people had come to see their boys. As it parted the crowd, the people pulsed and surged with enthusiasm, taking photos of the players, while they also took pictures and movies of their own, on a day I am sure they will never forget. Even those fleeting moments satisfied the masses, as the surge followed the bus for a while and then dispersed. Perhaps families were regrouping and ready to move to the next festival point. Many made their way into the capital, to the palace, where the celebrations continued in earnest. They continue as I write, in bed, hours later.

I know the world over there are teams with fans. Some more avid than others. We have all seen them on TV dipped in body paint; even some games are followed by stampedes or violence. Today I was simply struck by the sincerity of the Uruguayan people. Their boys, their people, their country may as well have won at the Copa del Mundo. To me, there is no doubt, living with such fraternity and pride, they are all “winners”.