Sun, moon and earth align for an eclipse at the solstice; rocks undulate and reveal their African origins; fear turns to delight in the shadow of the full moon, and I step into a deserted room and find magic, All this and more in La Pedrera, unsung heroine of Uruguay's fabulous eastern beaches. Upon leaving the metropolis of Punta del Este, I considered La Paloma, but with its 4,000 residents, it didn't seem as inviting as the 1,000 in La Pedrera. Here in this tiny town, everyone looked me in the eyes, smiled, and returned my "buenos dias" in the streets. The fruit and veggie man took lots of time to chat, recommended the sweetest of his fruits, and let me sample his wares. Around midnight, the night of the full moon, a white Labrador (a
... read more