Cross the boarder: Uruguay!

Friday 16th we handed in the key of our beloved apartment in Buenos Aires (from now on BA). Our journey continued to Colonia de Sacramento in Uruguay. Uruguay….if I would not have been a football fanatic I would know nothing about the country. Now I at least know they were the first world champions (1930 I believe).

One hour on the ferry and we arrived in this unbelievable beautiful tranquil village. A welcome change after hectic (and very lively) BA. Clean air, eating outdoors without pollution. We also enjoyed the local specialty “chivitos”. The biggest burger ever with steak instead of dodgy mi(n)ce beef. We would have to lose some weight after BA and Uruguay….

Anyway hopefully the photos speak for themselves. Colonia: a fantastic place (except for our disappointing hostel, which Yvonne described as the place from the film “Psycho”!

After 2 days we hit the road to Montevideo. We were well chuffed with our hostel, right at the main plaza, clean and very friendly staff (Pablo and Fabian). Oh and, I almost forgot, they offered us two tickets for Uruguay - Chili game on arrival!! Even Yvonne´s cut throat gestures could not prevent that we were 2 ½ hours later in the stadium!! All you guys out there can imagine Montevideo and I headed off straight away ;-)
The fact that the Chilean team got into their bus to the stadium, next to our hostel was just a bonus…. EDIT Yvonne: I HAD BEEN WELL AND TRULY STITCHED UP!! I'VE GOT A FEELING THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A REOCCURING EXPERIENCE THROUGHOUT OUR TRAVELS.
Me again. Well let´s hope so. All fellow (male) travelers agree with me that the football experience in South America is FAN-TAS-TIC!

Back to Montevideo. A really relaxed city. People look well dressed and no hassle what so ever. It has got a beach and it is 2 hours from the most famous beach resort in South America: Punto del Este. It has no specific beauty, but it is a cool place to stay with very friendly people.
Uruguayans are mainly from European descent (Italy and Spain), who mainly crossed around the second world war. The difference with BA is that there more black and mixed race people. Montevideo used to be the main port for slaves to arrive. Around 5% of the population is of African origin. Is gives the place a more cosmopolitan feel. There amazing few indigenous people. We found out from a student in our hostel, that is down to the first president Riviera, who killed most of them (only 200 years ago….).

We really enjoyed our 5 days in this small country in of South America. We did a stopover of one night in Colonia, to head back to BA, to catch the bus (16 hours) to Puerto Iguazu.

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