Blogs from Colonia del Sacramento, West, Uruguay, South America - page 5

Day 96 Sunday 15th January We went off to the Feria de Tristan Narvaja markets today which is a huge market in central Montevideo that closes streets for blocks, as we walked up to the area we passed the pet section with stall after stall of fish and tanks, then mice and puppies (it is a pity that the locals do not adopt dogs off the street instead of adding to the problem, I would like to know the statistics of how many of these puppies stay with the buyers all their life?). Next was the fruit and veg section it is huge with an amazing amount and variety, also in this area is fresh pasta, cheeses and salamis. Then there was a sprinkling of clothes including second hand bras – I don’t think ... read more

So after only 1hr on a ferry from Buenos Aires you can arrive in Colonia Del Sacramento, Uruguay. This small town can boast that it is the oldest town in Uruguay and is renowned for its world heritage site of the historic centre. I had planned to spend two nights over there, which was more than enough time to explore the cobbled streets and take in some sun on the sandy beaches in the bay and rent a bicycle. I had planned to have a couple of chilled out days here before I fly off to South Africa and start a whole new adventure with a few people coming to visit me, Firstly Philippa and then my parents! Can´t wait! But before that on my return to Buenos Aires Izzy and Siobhan were in town, so ... read more

Day 19/20 - Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay What should we do today? I know lets go to Uruguay! Well let's just say it wasn't quite planned like that but almost. We had actually decided around four or five o'clock the previous day that a trip over the water may not be such a crazy idea after all. We had briefly mentioned the idea back home in the UK, but dismissed the idea out of hand as unrealistic. It was only after talking with Roger and Lynn on one of our numerous coach journeys, who had been to Buenos Aires before and were making the trip themselves on their first free day in the city, that the idea started bubbling in our heads. But for us at that point it was still a bit of a whim. ... read more

Back from Cabo Polonio, it's a quick overnight stop in Montevideo before we head up the norther shore of the Río de la Plata to Colonia del Sacramento. Colonia - whose historic quarter is Uruguay's sole UNESCO World Heritage Site - was founded in the 17th century by the Portuguese. It acted as a port for the smuggling in of imported goods, to the unsurprising irritation of the Spanish, only just across the water in Buenos Aires. After a number of spats the town was eventually ceded to Spain. The historic part of town, located at the very tip of a peninsula sticking out into the river just within view of Buenos Aires, is a lovely place to walk around and soak up the atmosphere. Cobbled streets, palm trees and clapped out vintage cars complement the ... read more

Pour échapper, le temps d’une journée, au trépidant rythme de Buenos Aires, nous avons décidé de nous payer le billet aller-retour en bateau jusqu’à Colonia, en Uruguay. En effet, comme expliqué dans le blog précédent, Buenos Aires se trouve au bord du « Río de la Plata » et de l’autre côté de ce fleuve, se trouve l’Uruguay. Colonia del Sacramento est la ville uruguayenne la plus proche de la capitale argentine, seulement 1h en bateau rapide (très rapide !) pour la rejoindre. De plus, la jolie petite bourgade est classée au patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO, il n’en fallait pas plus pour nous inciter au déplacement ! Nous nous levons donc à l’aube pour nous rendre au terminal des bateaux, à 20 minutes en taxi de notre hostel, terminal d’ailleurs ultra-moderne. Une seule compagnie effectue ce ... read more