Uruguay Blog (Day 3)
Day 3 – In the morning we were off in the bus to meet the horses and Paula and our gaucho had them saddled up and ready to go. The day was beautiful and sunny with balmy weather and no thought of raincoats. It was a delight after the wind and clouds of the day before. The weather continued ideal throughout the duration of the trip. Again we rode over unspoiled country with green pastures and rolling hills, but before long the landscape began to change and we were riding on dirt tracks through forests of eucalyptus trees which are raised as a crop for lumber, firewood and for making paper in many parts of the country. We rode on through for a late lunch at the next estancia, San Pedro de Timote, which is an exquisite showplace dating back a century and a half. The place reminded me of some of the beautiful haciendas in Spain. It is built on top of rise with an imposing gate at the entrance and a long manicured gravel driveway leading up to it. Lovely trees more than a century old surrounded the buildings. The bedrooms, living room and dining room are spacious and charmingly decorated with enormous fireplaces everywhere blazing with huge eucalyptus logs. The decorations and pictures on the walls were old and fascinating. There is a heated swimming pool and sauna so it is by no means without modern comforts. Lunch was another fine feast and after a short rest some of us left for an afternoon ride around parts of the vast estancia. Dinner was a marvelous affair with many mouth watering choices.