Uruguay: Montevideo

We have been on a search for a place we could make an expat home for a couple of years. In Uruguay's Montevideo, we found what we have been looking for.

Montevideo is home to 1.5 million residents. We arrived at the city's new international airport on a direct flight from Miami that was just under 10 hours.

We discovered the beautiful Ciudad Vieja, with it's colonial architecture, vibrant port and thriving financial and business district. We jogged the Rambla. We strolled the neighborhoods of Pocitos and Punta Carretas. We experienced the musicians and dancers of the Tango. We were charmed by Parque Villa Biarritz and hope to make our home in its vicinity.



It is not enough to say we ate well in Montevideo. Sugar Loaf treated us to a 5 star experience at the Rara Avis. We made the pilgrimage to the Estancia Del Puerto, made famous by a visit from Anthony Bourdain. We indulged in port whilst watching Tango at the Barr Fun Fun, circa 1985. Ultimately, it was the tea time and coffee breaks at Bonafide and Amaretto that sealed the deal. Our assessment of the Montevideo people came to rest on the superiority of their cappuccinos, the best in all of South America.

As great friends, lovers and travel companions, we are happy to make our way on our adventures together. Yet, our trip was so enriched by the expats we met we could not imagine Uruguay without them! Alex Garcia is an unparallelled resource. And for the small price of some stateside chili powder, Carolla of Feligreta (Ellauri & Brasil) will introduce you to her friend, Robert.

Robert will open his home to you on a day's notice. He pours you a coffee or wine, hosts you at dinner, ensures you make the rounds to the expat meetings and helps you make his friends your friends.

Charla hears you are a Pilates teacher and immediately books a lesson with you. She invites you to Sunday brunch and you pass several hours eating delicious food in pleasant company.

Hank explained how 9/11 was an inside job, Mark reported on the Japanese fall out radiation levels in Wisconsin and Irene educated us on the Obama deception . They may have been the most fun of all!

In Uruguay, we accomplished what we came to do. We established that Uruguay is ideal as a foreign investment and expat locale. The funding process for our farming operations and appreciation syndication is progressing ahead of schedule. Before long, we will make our way back. And in the not so distant future, we will make a home in Montevideo.

GrasslandsUY Farming & Investing Update

Doug and I have produced a video highlighting the UY farms we visited for acquisition by GrasslandsUY.



What you will see in the video:

• Description of the CONEAT map, which determines the soil productivity for each farm
• Aerial view of Montevideo, UY, a modern and cosmopolitan South American capital
  
• The criteria GrasslandsUY is using to assess properties
• View for yourself the richness of soil in UY
• Brief reference to the innovative zero tillage farming methods employed by the Uruguayans and Argentines.

To inquire about investing opportunities in GrasslandsUY's farmland operations and appreciation, contact Doug Bell at 813.992.8885 or douglassbell@gmail.com

In June, I blissed out at a series of workshops with Master Movement Educator, Pat Guyton. I developed my Pilates knowledge, skills and abilities with my dear mentor. I was once again moving and growing under the presence of one of the best Pilates teachers in the country, my friend and former boss, Aida Zorrilla. I had the opportunity to work alongside Dana Bell as we have for many years now, striving to be the best Pilates students we can be. And when we weren't working, the Pilates Mafia was lifting our wine and margarita glasses in honor of how far we have all come.


All this made me yearn for a studio I could call home and fellow teachers I could collaborate with and be inspired by. In short order, I found just such a place. I am now a teacher at Suncoast Pilates and Personal Training.


For many days, sending my resume, doing phone interviews, chatting in follow up meetings and attending to all the social media that is necessary for small biz marketing has eaten up all my time. It's been a bit exhausting but it has all been worth it.

Joining a studio is just one of the steps I am taking as a professional after being with Pat. Dana and I are venturing out to become certified stretch and flexibility therapists in October. Aida and I will be following Pat's path with the Franklin Method by beginning Level 1 Teacher Training in November. Suncoast Pilates has the CoreAlign system, so I will also becoming familiar with this core controlled aerobic training apparatus.


Like I told Doug many years ago, "I've put a few things in motion."

Uruguay: Piriapolis & Punta Del Este

Farming and investing was just part of our objectives for our recent trip to Uruguay. Evaluating Uy as an expat refuge was high among our priorities as well. As with farming, we found much to appreciate in Piriapolis and Montevideo.

Our first days in Uruguay were as guests of David James and Alex Garcia of Sugar Loaf Ocean Club & Spa. We ate and drank, ate and drank some more, and got a feel for the UY beach destinations of Punta Del Este and Piriapolis.

Punta reminded us of Southeast Florida, with high rise condos and upscale shopping on every inch of its peninsula. Piriapolis was more low key, with a pretty half moon bay. Just a couple of miles up from the beach and you are among serene cattle pastures.

Doug fell in love with this uninterrupted panoramic view of Piriapolis and the ocean. This property sits towards the top of Sugar Loaf mountain, one of the highest elevations in UY.

Should we ever decide to build, our patio will look very much like this. One of us is going to have to learn to cook with fire.

This kitchen shows we aren't exactly going to be suffering down in South America.

A morning ride on the mountain to remind us of the Hill Country...at about a third of the cost.

Uruguayans use their beaches about 2 months of the year, Jan and Feb. There is a bit of use for the shoulder seasons but you will find the condos, the beach houses, the shops and the restaurants mostly closed unless the summer sun is shining.

There is an organized expat community in Punta and Piriapolis. They are distinct and different crowds, to say the least. The meal we had at the expat meeting in Piriapolis was the worst of the entire trip. Yet, we had a fabulous time at a party held in the home of the owners' of Punta's Mexican restaurant.

After our days in Punta and Piriapolis, we felt as if we had a firm handle on what UY beach communities had to offer. Next up comes our sampling of South American city life in Montevideo.

Uruguay Farming and Investing

"Uruguay is a good place to be in the farming business."

writes PathFinder International Executive Director, Ronan McMahon, in this article that just posted to my Facebook feed, "A Good Business To Be In."








After our 3 week scouting trip in Uruguay, we have to agree.






"Tucked between the farming giants of Argentina and Brazil is little Uruguay."

One Uruguayan referred to her country as a "big farm." After leaving the city limits of Montevideo, it is evident why. Once you leave the populated areas of Montevideo, Colonia and Punta Del Este, all you see is "agri rich" farmlands. We visited the departments of San Jose, Colonia, Soriano, Florida, Durazno and Rocha in search of farms suitable for our farm operations and land appreciation syndication. In truth, we saw all but 3 of UY's departments and they would be unsuitable for farming.

"Uruguay has good land." I would add "and the most advanced farming methods in the world."

A hedge fund manager, reviewing our investment, asked why we would farm in UY.

The Ogallala aquifer, which yields 30% of all US ground water is drying up. The entire of Uruguay sits on the Guarani aquifer and it is untapped. Adequate rainfall provides for the crops of UY while the US is irrigation reliant. Arable lands in the US are being lost to urban sprawl while only 1M hectares of 3M are currently cultivated for agriculture in UY. Uruguay's agriculture industry is less than a decade old and adopted the zero tillage, mechanization and logistical infrastructure of the Argentines. Conventional US farming has diminishing productivity with irreparable damage to the soil. Uruguay's methods are cost effective and sustainable while US methods are expensive and thought to contaminate the environment. The US farmer makes enormous investments in machinery while the UY farmer uses outsourcing for cost containment. US conventional farming techniques release carbon and other greenhouse gases while zero tillage is recognized as a conservation practice and farmers may sell carbon credits to energy corporations. UY farmland is price based on a scientific soil type classification and productivity index (CONEAT). US farmland uses a USDA system transferred from the Soil Conservation Service in the 1950's and may be inferior to the CONEAT. US "custom operated" farm management is a less desirable operating arrangement (versus crop share or direct management) while similar services of seed and planting to harvesting and exporting are routine operating arrangements in UY. The US climate restricts farms to single planting season with the exception of LA. The UY climate allows for "double cropping" or two planting seasons annual, thus making the farmer twice the gross income for the same acreage. The US farmer relies on subsidies to be profitable as products such as soy are sold below cost of production while the UY farmer does not. US farmland sells at $3638 per acre where UY farmland sells at $2633 per hectare ($1066 per acre for 2.47 acres). Finally, US farmers must hold assets in US dollars while UY banks offer the Dollar, Euro and UY Peso as depository currencies.

The question should be why would you farm in the US.

"As food prices continue to rise, so will the price of agricultural land. And when there are concerns about inflation and the value of paper money, agricultural land prices rise."

Investors in our farmland operation and syndication, a UY corporation, receive an annual dividend from the income of crops or rental of farmlands. Additionally, as the land appreciates in unison with commodities, the investors capital grows as well. While crops must be protected and risks managed, investors can expect an 8% ROI and 15% in land appreciation annually.

Our business plan is to have 3 ventures raising $5M each. Minimum investment is $200K. Each venture will own 3-4 farms in several departments to mitigate climate and other perils to crops. Each venture will provide the founder with 15% stock, a syndication fee of 1.5% and a modest annual general administration and management fee.

"Uruguay has good land. Of course you need good land to raise cattle or grow soya. But you need more than that to make the business work."

Weather and human error are the threats to farm profitability. Weather risks can be insured against. More than one farmer told us prayer is integral to the cycle of the crops.

Industry standards are known. They must be adhered to. The same skills that once managed, at the time, the 3rd largest Supercuts franchise will be applied in operating farms successfully.



"Uruguay is peaceful and stable. The economy is strong, and the people well- educated."


The best law firm in Uruguay. A landowner and farmer as consultant and broker, whose family has been in UY farming for generations. The most respected agronomists, farm managers and facilities. Accountants and tax attorneys specializing in international clients.

Investors can be confident not only in the founders but in every professional that works with the farms.



The devaluation of the dollar. Food inflation. Housing and asset deflation. These are just a few of the reasons why we changed our minds about investing in a First Choice Business Broker franchise. Uncertainty about availability of capital due to mounting US debts and deficits and tax implications of healthcare reform are others. We began to search for investment opportunities without these adverse conditions. Our search led us to South American and Uruguay.

Uruguay uses the dollar. But you can hold Euro and UY Peso currencies instead. The UY real estate market is robust, with Montevideo growing 18% last year. As one "big farm", all the food is grown "locally" and sustainably. Uruguayan beef is the most prized in the world. Uruguay's leftist president, Mujica, demonstrates himself to be pro-business, works with his adversaries and has even spoken of learning from the mistakes made in revolutionary times. Best of all, Uruguay is effected very little by either the economies or policies of the US or the EU.

Our visit to Uruguay verified what is reported . The political and economical environments are stable. The streets are safe and clean. The people are friendly and educated. The food is delicious and grown or raised in the most healthy way possible. The "investor migration" is encouraged and the people of Uruguay welcome working with international partners to improve their prosperity.

Uruguayans have been some of the best beef producers in the world. Their agricultural partnerships with their "cousins", the Argentines, rendered them some of the best farmers in the world as well. The Texan in us can't wait to join them.

"The future is in the land."

Two weeks to Uruguay

"Where?" This is what people ask about first we when tell them we are traveling abroad to Uruguay. I asked the same thing when Doug returned from an International Living conference and proposed Uruguay as a place to investigate for living and investing abroad.


Uruguay borders Brazil to the North and Argentina to the West/Southwest and the Atlantic Ocean to the Southeast. There are many distinctions that set Uruguay apart the rest of Latin America: Uncorrupted politicians and bureaucrats, stable economy, 98% literacy rate, low poverty, little crime, without natural disasters, cows outnumber people 3.8 to 1 and its economy is agricultural.

Piriapolis is to the west to the internationally acclaimed Punta Del Este and the first destination in our journey within Uruguay. Here we expect to find white sandy beaches, fresh caught seafood and a bit more laid back lifestyle than Punta.

While researching living options in Punta/Piriapolis, I discovered the Sugar Loaf Ocean Club and Spa development. We will begin our travels as guests of David James, its Texan developer. Both the lifestyle of Sugar Loaf and potential rental income peak our interest. We expect to find it somewhat like Vanderbilt Beach of Naples, FL...at a quarter of the price.

Montevideo is Uruguay's capital city with 1.5 million residents, half of the country's population. Here we will meet with residency, tax and agrobusiness attorneys. Additionally, we will seek the assistance of experts in establishing a farmland operation and appreciation syndication that Doug will oversee.

Buenos Aires might be the birthplace of Tango but on weekends the streets of Montevideo fill with the dancers of "Street Tango". I can't wait to try this sexy form of partner dancing with Doug.

The US has the cheeseburger. Uruguay has the chivito. Filet, ham, bacon, egg, tomato, mozzarella and olives are piled into a bun with mayo. The low carber in me relishes a chance to gorge in the paradillas. Since 88% of Uruguayans descend from Europeans, the cuisine has variety. There will be German pastries, Latin American empanadas, Italian pasta and gnocchi and Spanish churros.

Once you leave the urban Montevideo, ritzy Punta Del Este and historical Colonia, you enter Uruguay's vast farmlands, home to the gauchos. While the Uruguayans are friendly, the beaches renowned and cost of living on par with the US, it is the opportunity to own arable lands that beckons us to Uruguay.

Our trip will last just about 3 weeks. We can hardly wait to see what Uruguay holds for us as expats and investors. We are putting a few things in motion. Who knows, we might come back soccer fans!

San Antonio Pilates

Beloved San Antonio. April 6-11 found me there for a workshop with my Master Teacher, Pat Guyton, at a the studio I was formerly employed by, Studio A Pilates. I also enjoyed a few extra days catching up with dear friends and shopping at favorite haunts such as Central Market and Lululemon Athletica Quarry Market.


Best of all, I got to stay with one of my best friends, Dana, with her new husband at their new creekside home in Boerne.

My first night there, Bill and Dana hosted the "Pilates Mafia" - Dana, Jean and Martha, with a true Texan bbq.

I met Mary Permann on her lunch break at The Cove. Mary was one of my teacher-in-training clients that became a friend ... and go-to girl for Doug!

Jill Tarpey is a lovely woman I met when she was performing ballet and teaching NIA. She has since moved into the world of yoga. She made time to give us a class at her new in home yoga studio before we began our Pelvic Power workshop.

Our workshop began with a Franklin Method Pelvic Power class. Pat Guyton uses brilliant props and imagery to teach functional movement. This participatory exercise taught us about our pelvic floors.

These are the cookies by Lily's Cookies that Studio A served at the break during the Pelvic Power workshop. I resisted because I removed grains from my diet this past Jan. I also was beginning the Xtreme Fat Loss diet and exercise program the next day. If I knew then what I know now, I would have eaten the cookie.

All Pilates and no play make for an unbalanced life. It was our duty to meet up at Paloma Blanca after a long Saturday session for some margaritas and Mexican food.

On Sunday, Pat demonstrated how she conducts a private session with a client. Here she increases the complexity of Mermaid by having the client in a tripod stance, increases the benefit by having the client rotate as well.

The trip was made complete when the Aguirres met me at the Henderson Starbucks for a face to face catch up.

The best part of this trip is knowing I get to do it all over again in June!