Feliz cumpleaños, Uruguay

This is Independence Day in Uruguay, the 200th anniversary of the date they got loose from the control of Brazil. The Oriental Republic of Uruguay is a tiny country, a decent size for a state in the U.S., but they have a distinctive culture – cuisine, wines, music, literature. They are collectively prosperous, low on corruption, and patriotic in a non-obnoxious way. They are personally good-natured, civil, and friendly, a likeable and modest tribe. Read about Uruguay as Wikipedia sees it. It's a fine little country, and I wish them 200 more.