Yes montevideo is a quite european city, but I just don't like living there maybe, because it is not an ugly city, it just is a bit "grey" and sad city. Maybe i'm the only one that feels this, but it's just my opinion. We have nice beaches, not in montevideo, these aren't very good, but in punta del este and they are good, but staying there is expensive. The rural area it depends which department (the equivalent of state). The nicer rural areas are the ones in a minor mountain range called cuchilla grande, the rest is just flat and hasn't got much good sceneries. So consider maldonado, lavalleja, treinta y tres, and part of cerro largo. I live in cerro largo and it is the department that I like the most, but I don't know if it's because I live here. If you want to stay in a wonderful city, go to colonia. It is beautiful. Much more than montevideo. It is a small city but is just wonderful. Remember, if you ever come to uruguay and want to use some guns, you might want to come to my ranch. I'm not sure if they will let aliens shoot in gun ranges with rented guns, because I never went to a gun range.