Ging gang gooley gooley gooley gooley wacher

The Australian idea of roughing it is a whole different story – these guys do it with style. First they have the right weather – which is 80% of the battle. Rock up to any camp site and you will generally find power – essential for charging up ipod, batteries, computer etc, a barbecue area, an undercover eating area that often includes, cooker, fridge, microwave, kettle, TV, tables, chairs, cooking pots and utensils. If it rains you have an alternative as there are equipped cabins on site. Add into the mix the Aussies ability to party/barbie and camping takes on a whole new meaning ie fun. I started to warm to the great outdoors.
Uruguay took camping to a new level. We arrived in time for the summer party season and accommodation cost three times more than normal. Hoards of young ravers from Argentina and Brazil flooded the coast, preparing to take part in a longer version of schoolies week. After hours of waiting in the hot sun we were let in to the site to pitch a tent. One thousand five hundred people were crammed into a 500 tent area. Toilet and shower visits had to be timed well in order to avoid the nightly 2 hour queues. Cooking over an open fire was a given as the restaurants were unimaginative, poor quality and expensive. It was a challenge but nutritionally beneficial, cheaper and more fun. And we had enough money left over to lash out on a bottle of wine at night. No one complained, got drunk, fought, annoyed their neighbours with bad behaviour or loud noise levels. Everyone was out to party, have a good time and make new friends. I loved it. But fifteen days on hard un-giving ground, despite alcohol induced sleeps, took it’s toll. We left Uruguay and headed towards Argentina for some soft mattress down time.
Camping in Uruguay! Guay you do it? … sounds fun