We’re headed due north to a border up in the corner of the country.
We start on the main road to Montevideo. Later we learn that this kind of immaculate view is typical of Uruguay
Pink is a colour they like a lot for farmhouses
We turn off the main road and head through the countryside. After about an hour or two we pass through a small town. It’s Sunday morning and there are people gathering around the plaza on horses
This guy’s the mayor or something. People start gathering around him
He’s followed by others carrying flags
Then we notice an extraordinary thing. The following horses are men and their sons
The sons who are old enough to ride their own horses, do. The one’s who aren’t old enough ride with Papa. Here’s one of each. It’s very moving to watch
There was one boy who looked liked he was out today solo for the first, or one of the first times. Father or grandfather was fussing over him. Probably 100’s of years of horsemanship were passed down this way, father to son. The boy was lucky, I thought
This fellow’s expression told the story. There was a lot of quiet pride here today
It was a bit sad to have to leave. I would have liked to stay in this town for a while. I watched them go off somewhere west and continued north.
Leaving the town, more of this
Through maybe 50 miles of Eucalyptus
Parrots and parrakeets in the treetops
This is mostly where the money comes from
Later, on the River Uruguay the border. Both countries in the same building
And across the river back into Argentina
We only had a few days here. It seems to be off the riding map. I wish I’d seen much more.