Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento - Day 29
Trip Start
Jan 31, 2008
1
217
251
Trip End
Ongoing
Colonia del Sacramento,
Uruguay
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Woke up this morning after very little sleep to catch the boat to Uruguay from the docks in Buenos Aires. Went through immigration and got my Argentinean exit stamp and my Uruguay stamp on the Argentinean side. A very quick and painless process. Boarded the swish Colonia Express boat and fell a sleep within minutes in the big comfortable seat at the front of the boat. Woke up just before we docked on Uruguayan soil.
We arrived in Colonia just after 10am after crossing the mouth of muddy Rio de la Plata as it enters the Atlantic ocean. What a beautiful and picturesque town Colonia is! The town was an important strategical and trade outpost for the Portuguese and the architecture and atmosphere certainly reflects it's important colonial past. I found a really quirky place to stay called the "Hostal Colonia", which is situated right in the centre of town, not too far from the docks. The rooms in the hostel circle a central courtyard, it's a really cool place with plenty of character although slightly rough around the edges.
Walked around the ancient walled city and enjoyed the relaxed laid back European atmosphere. I found out that the historical quarter of Colonia is the only UNESCO world heritage site in Uruguay. The town definitely justifies it's world heritage status, I feel like staying here for days, but I must push on north tomorrow to the capital, Montevideo. I want to see some more of Uruguay before heading to carnival in Brazil.
Went out for another stroll in the evening. Sat by the water and watched the sunset over the muddy waters of the Rio de la Plata. A nice way to end the day in Colonia.
