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Uruguay

Stories and Photos from my travels to Uruguay.

Destination 》South America 》Uruguay

Year Visited: 2009 – August

While on a business trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina, I took a trip to Colonia, Uruguay, a UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its cobbled historic quarter and colonial Portuguese and Spanish buildings.

Uruguay, the second-smallest country in South America, has a South Atlantic Ocean coastline and lies between Argentina to the west and Brazil to the north. Most Uruguayans have ancestors from Spain and Italy who immigrated to the country in the 19th and 20th centuries. Uruguay is often called the Switzerland of South America because of its stable democracy and mostly due to a developed financial sector based on bank secrecy.

Uruguay had long been inhabited by indigenous people who would hunt, gather, and fish on the land. Europeans discovered the country in 1516, but it was settled by the Portuguese in 1680. Spain founded Montevideo in the early 18th century as a military stronghold in the country; Spain wrested the country from Portugal in 1778, by which time almost all of the indigenous people had been exterminated. In 1831 Fructuoso Rivera, Uruguay’s first president, organized the final strike of the Charrua genocide, eradicating the last remnants of the Uruguayan native population.

I boarded a speed boat from Buenos Aires for Colonia, sailing on Rio de la Plata, a muddy estuary of the Paraná and Uruguay Rivers, which forms part of the border between Argentina and Uruguay. Rio de la Plata is the widest in the world, with a maximum width of about 220 kilometres (140 mi).

Colonia del Sacramento was founded in 1680 by the Portuguese in southwestern Uruguay, by the Río de la Plata, facing Buenos Aires, Argentina. The city changed hands several times between Spain and Portugal.

Pictures below are of the old town and port of Colonia del Sacramento, the oldest city of Uruguay.

On the way to Uruguay.. Leaving Argentina behind
Our Boat to Colonia is flying Uruguay flag.
The first sight of City of Colonia.
This big boat makes 2-3 trips a day from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento.
A big billboard welcoming you to Uruguay!
The city hall of Colonia built between 1927-1933.
The gate to the Old town and wooden drawbridge, an impressive entrance to the historical center.
The city wall of the ancient town of Colonia.
Old windmill converted in to a restaurant El Torreon.
El Faro lighthouse of Colonia del Sacramento built in 1857, adjacent to ruins of the San Francisco Javier Convent, one of the oldest buildings in Colonia del Sacramento dating from the 17th century.
Calle de Los Suspiros alias Street of Sighs, one of the most picturesque streets in Colonia. The street is very iconic; it is one of the most original streets dating back to the 17th century which is lined with houses from the colonial period.
Old colonial house on Calle de Los Suspiros.
A shop on the Calle de Los Suspiros.
There are many outdoor restaurants in the old town of Colonia.
There are many outdoor restaurants in the old town of Colonia.
Enjoying Mate, caffeine-rich national drink of Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. Mate was consumed by the Guaraní and Tupí people in South America before arrival of Europeans.
You can find few antique cars in the old town area.
An old car used as a flower pot.
One of the old colonial building for Sale/Rent.
Rio de la Plata, a muddy estuary of the Paraná and Uruguay Rivers, which forms part of the border between Argentina and Uruguay. Rio de la Plata is the widest in the world, with a maximum width of about 220 kilometres (140 mi).
Centro Cultural Bastión del Carmen
Sunset over Río de la Plata; one of the most colorful afterglow I ever experienced.
Sunset over Río de la Plata.
Río de la Plata after sunset.

Uruguay has lot to offer. I would definitely like to go back and explore more. After a day in Colonia, I took a boat back to Buenos Aires before flying to my home in Dallas, Texas.

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By Window on The World

In May 2017, 23 days before I was going to complete 50 years, grabbed an opportunity and took an early retirement.. Picked up a backpack and traveling ever since.. Love to travel around the world, experience different culture, local cuisine & drinks .. and take pictures.. so far been to 108 countries and still counting...

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