The Daytrip to Colonia, Uruguay

On my 3rd day staying in Buenos Aires, I took a fast ferry (run by Buquebus) to Colonia del Sacramento, in Uruguay. Spending 184 Argentine Peso on the boat fare, this was among the most costly thing I purchased in this South American trip.

Rio de la Plata becomes so wide at its mouth, it's practically like a bay rather than a river. While I could take 3-hours' crossing to the Uruguayan capital - Montevideo, I opted for the small town ease, to Colonia del Sacramento that is only 1 hour away.

Built first by Portugese colonists and then taken by Spaniard, Colonia is more than 400 years old. Its historic center was declared UNESCO world heritage site in 1995 (the only such site in Uruguay). Wandering around the very small core of the town, it is quaint and lovely, very different from hustle and bustle of Buenos Aires!

While having lunch and listening to music performance at a restaurant called "Drugstore," I ran into a Harvard classmate I haven't seen for more than 10 years. What a small world it is!

Since this is a different country (and smallest one in South America), it actually is in a different time zone from Argentina. Fortunately I did figure it out and did not arrive at ferry terminal one hour early...

Please click the thumbnail on the pictures to see enlarged images

This stone gate leads you to the old town of Colonia del Sacramento.

Cobbled streets of Colonia. It does have a feel of a UNESCO town...

You can even see a group of nuns wandering around its ancient streets.

This little house is a tile museum. It should be at least a few hundred years old.

Portugese style Alentejo titles outisde the Museum.

Ancient map (on tiles) of the Rio de la Plata basin...

View from the top of the historic San Francisco Convent Ligthouse.

View of Rio de la Plata from the top of the Ligthouse. I think that is the ferry which would take me back to Buenos Aires...