People sunbathe at the beach in Punta del Este.

People float in the Dead Sea near the West Bank Jewish
settlement of Mitzpe Shalem. Photo: Reuters/Marko Djurica

Beach goers at Jose Ignacio beach (top and below) in the luxurious sea side resort of Punta del Este. Every summer, Argentines flock to Uruguay’s glamorous Punta del Este beach resort to get tanned and be seen. Dollars are widely accepted in Uruguay and tourists tend to pay cash for holiday rentals. Argentina’s virtual ban on foreign currency purchases has sent the black-market rate for dollars soaring, however, making a trip to “Punta” doubly expensive. Photos: Reuters/Andres Stapff