T h e - E d g e

The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth. - La Rochefoucauld

You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want. - Zig Ziglar

He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist. - St. Francis of Assisi

A Feral Surf Trip up the Uruguayan coast in 2002 was the catalyst for discovery of our properties in the small villages north east of Punta del Este.*

Originally an ‘ancient fishing village & holiday resort’ the beach town of Manantiales has moved more into the limelight as an artist village with eclectic shops, cafes and galleries. Early structures to the area were unassuming constructed by families from local San Carlos who remain a presence to this day ensuring the integrity of the village.

The name Manantial comes from the substantial spring located beneath the surface and inland to the residential area. Uruguay’s small population & family heritage was a recurring lesson of the importance of specific areas to the native populace. During a  meeting with a family attorney in La Ciudad Viejo, Montevideo I was informed of childhood memories in the local park where a pipe with fresh spring water would flow to alleviate pressure. Access to fresh sources in abundance turned out to have other obvious virtues during the drought in the summer of 2023.

Manantiales Point was considered a quiet extension of a more vibrant nightlife town of La Barra upon arrival in 2002 & 2003. La Barra saw growth in the middle 1960’s with the completion of a bridge to Punta del Este. Real Estate agencies noted the construction and continued development of International Jet Set farms inland around Route 104. New activity from Argentines diversifying from the peso collapse during the Great Depression of 1999-2002 assisted with growth. 

The initial wave down of the Federal Reserve Note / U.S. Corporate Dollar in 2001 along with a the NASDAQ collapse resulted in the arrival of some high net worth individuals from Europe & New York / Connecticut into Jose Ignacio. Manantiales has recently experienced growth but retains charm and Mediterranean feel.

Bikini Beach has become an international destination with incredible sunset views back to the city scape silhouette of Punta del Este. Recent developments on either side of the point have not deterred the artistic desirability with a new trend to save tasteful existing buildings. La Linda Bakery is an example of friends who have brought an international style / class to the area with classic lines. O’Farrell Kitchen is another setting designed by Architect Diego Montero with world class cuisine & surf art in a cutting edge setting.

Our location on Calle Maldonado was originally a small Greek style home purchased in 2007 from a local agent who had no other interests in the property. A conversion to a garden cafe started in February 2012 with longer range plans set in stone. Literally.

A recent ‘boots on the ground’ trip confirmed the need for an ocean view wine bar with access to a Japanese fusion surf taco made in the kitchen below [Baja California Sur].

The design / build of initial towers over the current kitchen may initially appear as ‘Eiffel Tower’ modern wood structures modeled after the past Uruguayan lifeguard tower blueprints in wild Rocha beaches near Brazil & Punta del Este. A significant goal to honor local customs & beach architecture mixed in with robust forms offering views of the Atlantic Ocean over the French & Japanese stone inspired garden.

Landscape Architecture and displays on the stairs ascending to the Garden Cafe above aim to provide a unique experience. Reggae to Bossa nova may assist with the transition from a Japanese stone garden to Atlantic Ocean Views above, setting the stage for Posada / Haus Ikigai.

Despite the fact we abhor DARPA Google & other centralized systems > OSS / NSA / CIA constructs we will be using this blogspot as a temporary home stipulate developments until another site is assembled. Small is Beautiful and we’re just a tiny group of no threat to the existing order. Arachán Capital clarifies some of the background as indigenous Indians coming down from the Bolivian highlands. Some say it’s possible we robbed a few banks there like Butch Cassidy & Sundance but the reality may be some past fortitude & luck in secondary markets [exploration / extraction industries].

More to come…

C + H