If you are considering taking some time off in another country remember this:

 1. Uruguay is a Latin Aamerican country but not of a hot temperature place like Mexico or Costa Rica. Many similarities with some Argentine regions, featuring cheap prices -housing, restaurants, food in general, leisure, Higher Education (private)- with the exception that no kidnapings or serious security problems take place at all across Uruguay.      

 2. The territory is basically flat, so you will not see any snow at all. There are some tiny hills in which you can practice sports but the highest peak in Uruguay is 500 meters above sea level.

 3. A large coast: all beach sports are practiced in Uruguay. During the year there are some international competitions.

 4. There is legislation prohibiting all kinds of sexual orientation hate-crime.

 5. A Civil Union national-wide law for both heterosexual and homosexual couples is to be amended this year.

 6. Religion is not very important to the average Uruguayan. No church in particular takes a dominant role in state business matters. Uruguay has been a secular country for about a century.

 7. The country is becoming more cosmopolitan as a result of an economic and cultural need to open to the rest of the world.

It is important to know that if you want to take a vacation or just need a place in the world to relocate Uruguay will offer you peace and comfort.

The typical local person personality is usually tranquil, seeing time and life in a different way than the rest of the world. Many things here are slower or take longer but see this as something alternative to living in the rat race. This leads to way of life in which violence and social phobias are lower in comparison to other parts of the world.

Still Uruguay is not a perfect place either. Homosexuality is not condemned by society and it was not addressed as a phenomenon until recently. The average citizen acts neutral -politically correct. However to be gay out in the countryside is still an issue for some people. In our opinion bringing in gender-free legislation is a step forward to create social awareness and acceptance.

Gay, Lesbian and transexual clubs are still located in the same places as ten years ago. Yet we see that little by little a hit-back influence for major sexual orientation state policies changes in Spain equality laws and civil unions in Argentina, LGTB matters are getting to be addressed not only by the gay community itself but by the society as a whole.

As everything takes time in life we are certain we are going to see more change in the future. An example of this there is a square in Old Town, Montevideo dedicated to sexuality diversity in a form to welcome diversity as part of the city life. It was inaugurated in February of 2005.

Creating sexual education curricula addressing the LGBT community is deemed to be introduced soon.