Atlantida

This is the largest of the communities and the location of all the important businesses. Strategically located along the highway is the Tienda Inglesa supermarket, reputed to be the largest one of this chain in the country. Other businesses cluster around it. Just beyond the stores, the highway exit to Atlantida leads to Artigas, the main thoroughfare, with commerce all along it. The town center of Atlantida is to the right near the beach end of Artigas and features a short peatonal (walking street) and many restaurants, shops, bars, and a casino. The town hub is very active from late afternoon to the early hours of the morning throughout the tourist season.

In the past, most of the restaurants and shops closed for two thirds of the year. While some still remain seasonal, including Macdonalds and La Cigale (the ice cream franchise), far more (including other ice cream outlets) now choose to operate throughout the year.

There are eight very active inmobiliarias (realtors) in Atlantida, and numerous other properties are for sale or rent directly from owners. The houses of Atlantida, all around the commercial zones, are most impressive. There are very few small or run-down homes in Atlantida south of the highway. The best way to appreciate the interesting variety of properties is by walking or biking. Real estate viewing along the beach is an obvious start, but many beautiful residences are located away from the nearly constant coastal winds. In general owners take pride in keeping yards and gardens looking good here. Most seasonal properties employ gardeners in the off-season too so they don’t look overgrown and abandoned.

The majority of rental properties are in Atlantida. They include apartments, apartment hotels, bungalows, and single-family homes. Many properties are managed by the inmobiliarias.

At the top end of Artigas, there is an overpass to cross the busy Interbalnearia. Once over, you are on Ruta 11, a highway leading inland. You are also in Atlantida north, a much smaller and poorer residential area that reflects the considerably lower economic status of the residents. There are, however, recent improvements. Along Ruta 11, the location of numerous businesses, new speed bumps and a parallel walking/biking path make it safer and less hectic. The architecturally fantastic and unique Cristo Obrero church is found at the northern extremity of Atlantida.

Las Toscas

It is very difficult to determine when you are leaving Atlantida and entering Las Toscas. The houses continue to be very attractive, however, the number of apartments and bungalows diminishes greatly. Las Toscas is much more residential.

Out on the highway end of Las Toscas, there are a variety of businesses and a hotel. Scattered businesses and services can be found along a few of the streets leading to the beach, but generally people of this community look to Atlantida for their needs. There is no commercial core and thus no sense of community to Las Toscas. It is only busy along the Interbal or along the coastal Rambla. Most of the rental properties are also on or close to the Rambla. The rest of Las Toscas is a quiet place to live, both permanently and seasonally.

Las Toscas north is a very limited area and the homes are quite poor. It is not generally thought of as a safe place to live.

Parque del Plata

Bounded north and south by the Interbal and Rambla and by the Chico Solis river to the east is Parque del Plata. Prior to the Argentinean economic collapse early in this century, Parque del Plata seemed to be doing quite well. Many of its businesses didn’t survive the economic downturn, however, and there are still quite a number that are for sale or operated seasonally in a marginal manner. For these reasons, Parque del Plata has gained a reputation of being rundown and not that attractive or safe for residence.

Things are beginning to improve, however. The community has wonderful views all along the riverfront, and the homes located here are very nice. A thriving and surprisingly well-stocked supermarket just a block in from this road is the focal point for renewed growth. In the summer months the river area is alive with pedestrians, cyclists, fishermen, and water sports enthusiasts who appreciate the calmer, fresh water of the river. The mouth of the river is very scenic and the adjoining ocean beach does not become too crowded. Virtually all the rental properties are in this part of Parque del Plata.

Away from highway, and river and seaside roads the properties are entirely residential. There are no apartments or other housing complexes. There are less rentals and less seasonal homes than neighboring Las Toscas. Well-maintained, attractive homes are mixed in with others in need of more care. Still, there is a growing sense of community and friendly neighborly support in Parque del Plata that will diminish the negative reputation. This, it seems, is a community with an improving future.

Like Las Toscas, the area of Parque del Plata north of the highway is small and considered to be poor and unsafe to live in.

Villa Argentina

The smallest of the communities is Villa Argentina. This community has more houses on the north side of the highway than the south side. Unlike the other communities here, the north side is not considered to be a poorer area than the south side.

Mostly, Villa Argentina is a place of homes. At least half the homes are occupied all year round. Others are weekend/summer homes primarily for residents of Montevideo. There are far fewer rental houses than in the other areas. Even the limited beachfront does not feature rental properties. Lacking a tourist attraction, Villa Argentina norte is quite serene, even in the busy summer months. Many seasonal residents here are content to live quietly and walk to the beach, only ten to fifteen minutes away.

This is not a very commercial area; along the highway there are only a few businesses. There are two impressive new housing complexes nearing completion on the south side of the Interbal. The famous “Atlantida” tourist attraction, El Aguila, (the eagle) is located in Villa Argentina south, overlooking the beach.

Next issue, we’ll provide a sampling of property prices in these communities and talk about several recent property purchases.

1. Traditional vs. alternative building methods

Find a building system that suits your needs, but isn’t more labor intensive than is required. For example, some traditional methods, like double brick walls are not necessary if you plan to spend just the summers in your new home. Instead research more economical, lightweight options for your property. If you are going to need a four-season home, you will want to look into the more expensive options. Depending on your needs, a traditional brick house maybe too overbuilt, or just right. Though the climate here can be cold and damp, it isn’t Nordic by any stretch of the imagination.

2. Master designer or young architect?

If you want an elaborate design, you will want to look for a master architect who will focus more on the design of your home rather than spending time overseeing the construction. You will end up with a very special house, but you will obviously have to pay more for the vision. If you are content with something simpler, search for a younger architect who can also act as foreman.

Also note that you may want to agree upon a fixed fee rather than percentage of project, as percent of project fees can encourage costs to be higher so the fee is larger.

3. Three bids minimum

Don’t let your architect have full reign. Require a minimum of three bids to ensure you are getting the best deal. Be sure contractors come with references. Also, hired contractors should provide their own material to ensure you are getting the best rate. If you’re footing the bill, they may care less if they use more materials than needed.

4. Finishing details

Finishing touches can get expensive, so decide beforehand how much you are willing to spend on details like light fixtures, sinks, ceramics, tiles, toilets, and marbles. Be aware that these items will not be included in the architect’s proposed budget, so you will need to budget for them. When it comes time to buy, don’t buy alone. Not with your foreign accent. Go with your architect who, on top of speaking native Spanish, may also have discounts at certain shops. Also, visit street fairs and auctions when looking for furniture. Take your time and have fun in the process.

5. Renovating? How to spend your money well.

The most important thing to bear in mind when doing a renovation is lo antiguo se mantenga. In other words, you will want to maintain certain aspects of the original design, while updating others. The true value of your old house or apartment is in the characteristics that are not often found in more modern projects. Outside of these, modern and new is better.

Design features to maintain

Wood or tiled floors

If the floors are completely tiled, this is an incredible attribute to preserve. Specialists can polish and wax floors to restore them, and can change out any broken parts. The same goes for wooden floors.

Molding

Molded details found on the walls and ceiling give a home a more authentic look and feel. They can be refreshed and painted a different color to highlight them.

Outside facades

Generally facades on the outside of a building are not painted, but rather have a natural color that should resist fading. However, car exhaust fumes can leave them black, so you can inexpensively pressure wash them to revive their luster.

Wooden doors and windows

Doors and windows are usually painted. But often you’ll find that if you remove the paint, you will expose beautiful wood underneath.

Objects to install anew

Kitchen

If you are reforming to resell, a new kitchen is a selling high point. Think new and modern when you are deciding on furniture, flooring, sanitary, taps, and granite countertops.

Bathroom

Like with the kitchen, a new bathroom is a selling point. Modern is better than antique when it comes to the WC, bidet, sink, marble counter, faucets, sanitary, and furniture.

Electrical

Usually older homes have outdated wiring that will need to be modernized for safety reasons.

Painting

It is advisable to paint the entire house because it gives it a fresh look.

Furnishings

Antique light fixtures go well with renovations. Likewise, you can pick antique furniture to play up the restoration. Or you can go with more modern and minimalist furniture in contrast to the old of the apartment. You can also buy furniture that is older, but not necessarily antique, and restore it.

George Winter, an American raised in the Uruguayan countryside, has recognized the treasure that is Uruguay’s interior wilderness, and has begun to bridge this gap. With his wide range of contacts in the Rocha area, and his deep knowledge of the land, in the fall of 2009, he embarked on a new business with the vision of bringing visitors into the heart of Uruguay, to know its people, places, plants, and animals.

In the initial stages, the focus was on hiking and camping. One of George’s most popular trips was to guide visitors through a wildlife reserve near Punta de Diablo. Guests are also treated to personalized tours, which include archeological sites and hikes through the indigenous forest to learn about the wildlife that live in the area, the trees, and even the mosses and lichen. ¨What is most impressive,¨ says George, is that cattle have been excluded from the reserve for several years now and the biodiversity is absolutely incredible.¨ Bird watching towers allow bird lovers to spot exotic species.

After fielding several inquiries for canoe trips, George designed a four-day float down the Rio Negro. From this different perspective, visitors can appreciate how Uruguay is ranked in the top five countries worldwide for bird population and bio diversity.

Even more demand for river trips followed, so George partnered with a veteran fisherman in nearby Valizas to offer a boating day trip. The trip takes in a visit to the sea lion colony, a swimming stop at a remote island where sea life is abundant and the water is a stunning shade of green, and then, although not the main focus of the tour, guests are invited to dangle fishing lines over the edge as the boat returns to port.

Finally, George, accompanied by a local estancia owner, offers daylong trail rides that begin in Punta de Diablo. ¨Sometimes, visitors want a classic adventure, and because Uruguay really is a land of horses, the combination is perfect,¨ says George about the popular trip.

With his childhood spent in the countryside and his early adulthood in the U.S., the tours that George offers are the crucial link that connects outsiders with that which is the essence of Uruguay. George told me, ¨Uruguay has no mountains or deserts, but there is a gentle beauty in all of its landscapes that captures the imagination and remains in the memory of those who have had the chance to explore it.¨

The company is based in Punto de Diablo and its name, a combination of the two languages, was chosen to pay tribute to Laguna Negra, located only five miles from the busy beaches of Punto del Diablo.

For more, visit: www.blacklaguna.com.

Paddle ball is like beach tennis but the rackets are heavy and made of wood just like a ping pong paddle. Although anyone can find a flat firm place on most beaches to play, serious contenders have gathered for years on the far corner of the Malvin beach in Montevideo to play the game properly with nets and equal sized courts.

Soccer is not a uniquely Uruguayan game, although many here in Uruguay will cite the number of World Cups that Uruguay has won. Still, it seems that on every beach there is a pick- up game of soccer. Sandals are stuck into the sand to act as goal posts and, unfortunately for females, the teams are always shirts against the no shirts. Very few women play.

Although Canadians might call it, “sand curling,” and Italians might call it “flattened Bocci,” Uruguay has fashioned its own game and called it, Teja (pronounced Te-ha.) Teja is probably the most common beach game here in Uruguay. There are leagues and some very serious playing. Everyone can play, from the elderly gents who meet on Pocitos beach in the afternoon to children and their parents. No particular skill or strength is needed.

Teja consists of 15 discs: seven of one color, seven of another, and one smaller marker disc. To play, the players mark out a rectangular playing field in the sand. The field is then divided in half. The marker disc is thrown across the middle marking line, then from outside the playing field, each team in turn, throws a disc as near as possible to the marker disc. Play continues until all the discs have been thrown. Teams gain one point for each of their discs that are closer to the marker than those of their opponents. Sound like fun? Absolutely!

Playing in the waves, body or board surfing, and the process of building fantasy castles may be what you want to do, but if you want to join in the world of traditional Uruguayan beach games, I encourage you to ask your neighbor at the beach if you can try your hand. At least now you know