Unique Uruguay Day 4
Unique Uruguay
Day 04 - Tuesday, December 06, 2011 - Montevideo, Day Trip to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
We met Bob & Susan for breakfast at 7:30 and then at 8:30 we met our local tour company for a day trip to Colonia del Sacramento.
As this was very reputable company used by many hotels, we were picked up by our driver Daniel and rode in a large tour bus with about 30 other people from countries all over the world.
The guide, Gustavo gave the lecture in Spanish, Portuguese, and English. I am not sure if the people from Germany knew English or Spanish, but we all seemed to understand what he was saying.
Gustavo began by giving us an overview of what we would be seeing and learning about and a time schedule for the day. Because of a bad accident on the main highway to Colonia, we had to take a detour through the industrial and residential districts of the city that we would not get to see on a normal tour.
We drove on Highway #1 to the small city of Nueva Helvecia which was settled in 1862 by European immigrants, mostly the Swiss. We stopped at the Hotel Nirvana where we were given a tour of the huge resort facilities and then served coffee, water, and some people had little meat and cheese croissants.
After our 30 minute stop we got back on the bus and our guide gave us a history of the European influence on the area. The homes were immaculate and the gardens well groomed. The main language spoken was originally German but now Spanish is the official language.
Our next stop just outside of Nueva Helvecia was the apostolic retreat center called the Covenant de Schoenstatt begun by Father Joseph Kentenich in 1914. We had 20 minutes to visit the small chapel and the beautiful gardens.
At noon we were on our way to Colonia situated on the western border of Uruguay and located on the Rio de la Plata. It is 140 miles from Colonia across the mouth of the river to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The seaside colonial village was originally settled by the Portuguese and then conquered by the Spanish. Gustavo took us all on walking tour of the main sites and then we had four hours on our own to enjoy the village.
Instead of having a sit down lunch we went to the market for rolls and the famous Colonia cheese. Dessert was from a nearby ice cream shop.
There was plenty of time to explore so we visited the city walls of the original fort, the Cathedral, the small shops, and shady sycamore lined streets. We climbed to the top of the Light House; 118 steps to the top!
It was about 76° but the shade and the breeze were cooling. Daniel and the bus were waiting for us and almost everyone was there at 4:20, our designated departure time.
There was one stop on the way home at the Granja Colonia and their Collection Museum. There are personal collections begun in 1955 of thousands of key chains, ashtrays, pencils, matchbooks, soda cans, and perfume bottles from all over the world.
This farm also produced jams and jellies along with the famous Colonia Cheeses. Our stay was brief and in 20 minutes we were driving back to the city.
It took about two hours to return to Montevideo, drop off our companions at their hotels, and then return to the Balmoral.
After working on photos and the log of our day, we went out for a chivito (sandwich with lettuce, beef, ham, cheese, onions and green olives) at El Chivito de Oro.
We came back to the room at 9:30, posted our journal and did a little laundry.
Accommodations: Balmoral Plaza Hotel, Montevideo, Uruguay - - - Meal: B
Comments
ola Vic, estamos olhando seu site e admirando suas belas fotos, conversamos por alguns instantes em colonia sobre futebol, adoramos seu relogio e gostamos muito das dicas sobre fotografia. Quando passar por Brasilia nao deixe de nos procurar. Contatos: rjcpaiva@gmail.com, telefone: 61-93339223. Abracos e boas festas de fim de ano.
Once again, Magnificent photos!
Post a Comment!Sounds like another great trip!
Daniel and Our Tour Bus
Hotel Nirvana
Covenant de Schoenstatt
Outer Wall and Gate to Old Colonia
Lighthouse by the Convent of San Fra...
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