Half a day in Uruguay

It's usually very difficult for Americans to travel between countries in South America. First, the countries are large and spread out, unlike Europe where they're all small and cuddly. Second, each country has different requirements for foreigners, such as reciprocity fees or tourist visas. Uruguay is a country that avoids both those things, so taking a trip there is very appealing for a student in Buenos Aires like me. The trip to Uruguay is only a one-hour boat ride from Buenos Aires, and US citizens don't have any tourists requirements other than a valid passport. Coastal Uruguay also accepts Argentine currency, which makes the whole process so much easier. I don't have class on Fridays, so I started my weekend off with a trip across the river.

I went to Puerto Madero on the morning of my travels and purchased my round trip tickets right before hopping on the boat. I did have to go through security and customs, but it all only took a few minutes. My favorite part was, of course, getting my passport stamped. The boat was spacious and comfortable, and we had a beautiful ride on the water. When I arrived, I went right to Barrio Historico (historic neighborhood) of Colonia de Sacramento. Colonia is the town in Uruguay right along the coast, closest to Argentina. It's a quint little town with all colonial style buildings.

I walked around the cobblestone streets and by the river. I stopped in an old basilica and through a street called Calle de los Suspiros. My favorite part was an old lighthouse. I went inside and first climbed to the balcony, and then kept climbing until the very top. I stood next to the light and got an amazing view of Colonia. You could see the whole town from a bird's eye view. It's even possible to see the skyline of Buenos Aires across the river! I got some ice cream and toured the rest of the historic parts of the town. It was a short trip, but it's a small area and everything to see is pretty concentrated. I enjoyed getting out of the city for the day and getting a little taste of Uruguay!

Next stop.... RIO DE JANEIRO!!!!!

This pictures proves there are palm trees,

Danielle