Cavorting by the Rivers: Colonia del Sacramento

The last place I visited in Uruguay before moving on was Colonia del Sacramento. This is a city with a historic Old Town, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I took a bus from Tres Cruces Bus Terminal in Montevideo, and a few hours later, I arrived in Colonia. It wasn't the most lively place, but later on I would see it is actually pretty.

The bus station was actually very close to the ferry terminal. I would use that terminal a few days later. But in the meantime, I walked a few blocks and found my hotel. I dropped off my bags, and started exploring. Well technically, I first had lunch, and then I started exploring.

At first glance, the place looks eerily quiet. After all, it's winter. The leaves are falling, there's rain every now and then, and the weather is relatively on the chilly side. But I explored a bit further. Time might have forgotten this place, but the historical vibe is definitely still there. The Portuguese were the one who first established dwellings here, and you can see where the roads are crooked compared to where it starts to straighten up. This is the point where the city was enlarged.

I also saw quite a few old cars. Some have been parked on the side of buildings, and it seems they have been there for quite a while. I mean, in some of these cars, plants are already growing. Some even became little gardens. There's definitely this old car vibe going on in this town.

I stayed for two nights. Perhaps that was a little too much, since I arrived mid-day, and by late afternoon I already explored more or less the entire Old Town. I had an entire day to myself for free, but I used that to chill and read my book. In any case, if you are pressed for time, then you don't need two nights in this place.

As mentioned, this was the last place in Uruguay that I visited before I moved on. On the morning of the third day, I went to the ferry terminal, and boarded a ferry to Buenos Aires.