It is 13.12.23 and we are on our way to the Uruguayan border. Luckily, we found out about the regulations before crossing the border. If you have your own vehicle, you have to fill in the import papers online beforehand. A number is generated and you are then registered with this number. The border town is Chuy and the Brazilian customs office is located in front of the entrance to the town. The officials here are very nice and always up for a joke. Our passports are stamped and the customs officer tells us to show the import documents for our motorcycles at the next counter so that they can be stamped. Import papers? We explain to him that we didn't receive any when we entered the country. Immediately, more officials arrive, including one who speaks English and Spanish. They simply say that we were lucky that the police didn't stop us in Brazil, as that could have caused problems. As this was not the case, they wish us a safe journey. And if we had problems entering Uruguay because of this, we should come back and they would issue us with a temporary import permit. What interested them most, however, was how we liked it in their country and whether we would travel to Brazil again. Of course, we will explore the north next year. They are delighted and everyone waves after us as we leave. After we finally get some cash in Chuy and Stefan comes out of the bank with a big grin on his face, we drive to the nearest car wash to get the bikes in shape and change Barana's tire. Now it's just a few kilometers through the duty-free zone to the Uruguayan border crossing. There is a lot of activity here, as you can buy things cheaply in Chuy. The customs officer asks for the online form and the number we generated this morning... and assumes that we don't have such a form. Of course we have the number. He is visibly surprised and stamps our passports, issues us with the import documents and wishes us a safe journey. We are not checked.
TIRE CHANGE IN CHUY
efore crossing the border into Uruguay
Short interim report. So far we have seen a lot of street dogs in South America. However, they are friendly, want to sniff something, play or run past us quite confidently. Some bark when we want to pass them and run towards us like crazy. At this moment, we slow down, usually this is enough, and the interest in our calves disappears. Otherwise, we stop and turn off the engine. Then they stop, look at us in amazement, sniff and leave. We've only had good experiences with the dogs so far. However, as soon as they realize that you are scared, they play their game ;-).
What we have observed is that people also help the four-legged friends. They put water bowls and food on the street for them. Be it hard bread, bones or leftover food. The dogs know exactly where to get what they need. They are part of the whole and belong to it, be it at the petrol stations, at customs, in the parks or anywhere else on the street. Dogs and humans accept each other.
After crossing the border, we drive 30 km further to the Parque Santa Teresa Carpas. We want to stay here for a few days. This park is maintained and monitored by the military. It is a huge nature park with palm trees and eucalyptus forests. It has three large beaches, a few small minimercados, a fort and a botanical garden and the area has no internet. In a very small section of the park there are cabañas for rent with electricity and water. However, wild camping is also allowed here. The campers are spread out so well that you don't even get to see your neighbors. We opt for an elevated spot with a view of the sea. We have no water, electricity or WIFI. And that's exactly what we need now. Just to switch off. There are simple toilets and showers next to the minimercado, which is a 5-minute walk away. We are happy and set up our tarp for the first time and put the tent underneath it. Stefan builds a fire pit, chops wood (we have a small saw and a splitting knife with us) and becomes Robinson Cruso. Tomorrow we'll probably have a log cabin and Noah's Ark in front of the tent hahaha. We stay here for a while to drive down, enjoy the view of the sea and we can forget about the beach at the moment. We enjoy the peace and quiet, the many parrots, which are very active from 7 am to 7 pm, our hammock and listening to nature. And as if the weather knew that we had left Brazil, the rain slowly leaves us too. After we have settled in and are sitting in our chairs, we hear a squeaking and creaking sound. We turn around and a huge eucalyptus tree falls over in slow motion... just like that. Well, let's hope the other trees hold up.
Robinson Cruso
Our Camp
COOKING AND FIREPLACE
No Steak
this is a capybara "Capybara"
BOTANICAL GARDEN
in the Park Santa Teresa
Churros WHILE ENJOYING
Simona in churro heaven
Yes!!! FULL GRAIN BREAD
At last, no white bread filled with air
Plaza de Mochilleros
OUR DAILY WAKE-UP CALL
WEATHER SEEMS TO BE GOOD
On 18.12.23 we slowly make our way towards Montevideo. Ursi has given us a contact. Thank you Ursi! We write a message and Sonja replies that she and her husband have a large garden and that we can pitch our tent on their campo. Wow, how sweet is that! We look forward to getting to know the family. Sonja and Marco live on their campo in Cuchilla Alta with the whole family, and they all gave us a very warm welcome. We feel very comfortable and Sonja spoils us with home-made delicacies from her kitchen, such as homemade bread, jam, tartare and at Christmas there is fondue chinoise and bourguignonne with pommes yammmi. We feel like we're in the land of milk and honey. Who would want to leave ;-). And apparently they want to keep us for a while longer. All right... persuaded, we postpone our departure until after New Year's Eve and celebrate Marco's birthday at the same time!
christmas brunch
FRIDAY IS MARKET DAY
So I accompany Sonja and granddaughter Amaya through the market stalls
CARROTS FOR THE HORSES
Sonja & Sara on the family camp
Sonja in her garden
Here you can get delicous beetroot!
WHILE ENJOYING
A wooden house is being built at the back of the campo and Stefan seizes the opportunity to lend a hand. He obviously enjoys it, he almost can't tear himself away hahaha. I smuggled myself into Sonja's kitchen and proved myself as a dishwasher... I've also climbed the ladder and was allowed to cook for the men;-). Our everyday life looks different at the moment and we are enjoying it to the full just being in one place. We were warmly welcomed and immediately integrated into everyday life. We feel at home. There is also a hot shower with pressure! Yes! And horses that run off when the opportunity presents itself and the gate is unfortunately open. Everyone is rounded up and every horse track is followed at night. Headlamps, flashlights and motorcycles are used to keep an eye out and the horses can be rounded up safe and sound.
And there are dear, loyal companions here too. Four of them in all...
Samira aka Cookie
Destino aka hippopotamus
Djengo und Lucky Aka little Witch
A SMALL PACK¨
Michi found them at the garbage dump
WHAT LUCK
...Michi adopts all five!
LUGGAGE CARRIER THE 3RD
Luckily Marco is a professional
THANK YOU MARCO! NOW THE JOURNEY CAN CONTINUE
Stop, Stefan still has a beard trim to do and, most importantly, there are home-made burgers and Sonja puts her home-made bread in the kitchen case. What a treat! We were able to enjoy Sonja's cooking skills for two weeks and we will definitely miss them! Thank you dear Sonja - our kitchen fairy!
Our wish has come true. We were able to spend Christmas and New Year with a lovely family. Many thanks to you all for giving us such a warm welcome. It was lovely! Muchas gracias!
Before we leave Uruguay, however, we drive to Punta del Este and meet Werner. Werner is also a motorcycle traveler and we will meet him again soon in Argentina.
Our journey now continues, we say goodbye with heavy hearts and jet off towards Argentina. We have planned to see penguins. And since we didn't manage to have breakfast with penguins on our birthday, we want to make up for it now. We are excited... Hasta 2024 in Patagonia!