Horay you sexy readers! How are you? Let's go back to our Patagonian trip, jumping to the last days.
It's been a while since we don't revisit the old Patagonian stories, isn't it? For me, going back to the hand written travel diary is always a journey of itself because, besides reading my musings, I read texts left by my travel friends - Some sort of memory that I like to keep of my travels, I simply ask friends to write anything.
On today's Travel Story I'll bring you to Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay. A place where I've seen one of the most beautiful sunsets in my life, right before sleeping alone on the beach. This small little town is full of history and historical places. Come with me.
Colonia del Sacramento - Uruguay.
Obs.: This story is part of a bigger journey that I plan to tell you one day. Since it would be incredibly long I've decided to release parts of it, featuring the most crazy bits. It'll not follow an order of events, but I'll put it in a way that you can read as parts of a book. Hope you enjoy.
This happened when I was hitchhiking Argentina and Chile in summer 2017. Carrying only the essentials and little money for the journey. I had left Buenos Aires in early January with the main goal to reach Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the americas. Plan was plain an simple: Work if needed, camp, hitchhike all the way, have loads of fun and let my desire guide the way.
March 3rd, 2017. I was living in Guilherme's house for 4 days in La Plata, Argentina. Guilherme is a longtime friend who is living and working as a musician there, it's one of those friends that I see only once in a while but it feels like we just saw each other yesterday. However, seeing my friend after spending two months alone in Patagônia was enough to feel like I had found a long lost buddy and it was strange to listen to portuguese once again. Sometimes I'd need to concentrate to find the words and some spanish would pop on my brain from time to time.
I stayed in La Plata to enjoy the Carnival, I had heard that the city was amazing and my friend and I had planned a meeting after my long hichhiking trip. Couldn't be more perfect.
La Plata has the typical Carnival fest, called the Murga, a really typical fest of Spanish origins. The event is full of happiness and colours, people laughing together and doing water ballon wars against the guys from the other neighboorhood; every day we came home completely wet, sometimes victorious, sometimes defeated. Unfortunately I don't have photos of this moment.
We spent the days cycling and preparing all sorts of meals, from the classic argentinean asado to tortas fritas passing through seafood risotto and homemade bread, not to mention the liters of beer and Mate. All I wanted was to live there for ever. Not possible.
The departure day had came. On that morning we woke up late, I was preparing to head back home when Guilherme came to me with a sad expression on his face.
- The dog didn't react. - He said.
Vini, the guard dog, had been sick since the day I arrived. A veterinarian came to check and advised us to keep an eye on him, otherwise call him back. But Vini didn't show any signs of getting better.
- We'll take him to the vet... if you want to wait here, it won't take long. - He said.
- Right! Go on, I'll wait here wishing for the best! - I said.
They took the car and went to the vet while I was waiting for them. It strangely didn't take long, worrying me a bit.
- Dude! Vini is Dead. - He said.
F#$*! I'm not an emotional guy when it comes to departures, but that one broke our hearts, I'd rather continue my journey knowing that the dog was ok. That's life, I guess, as cruel as it can be. After saying an ethernal goodbye to our friend Vini, the dog, I said a temporary goodbye to my other friend, Guilherme. Promises were done to meet again as soon as we can. Rest in Peace Vini.
With my fewer money and my essential items I took the boat to cross the La Plata river from Buenos Aires (Argentina) do Colonia del Sacramento (Uruguay), there I'd figure out how to cross Uruguay to get back home. To be honest, after two months, I was quite expert when it comes to not planning, just going.
The boat crossing is fast and peacefull, the boat is one of those jet powered so it flies over water and sails smooth as silk, a trip I gladly enjoyed sleeping. A well deserved rest if you ask me. Once in Colonia del Sacramento you'll find yourself near the Historical Quarter of Colonia del Sacramento or Barrio Histórico. This is the place for those wishing to go back in time; all the historical buildings carry their unique mark, where once Spaniads and Portuguese fought ferociously for centuries.
Today, Colonia is a UNESCO world heritage, full of tourists and expensive restaurants, which I completely avoided. I had nothing to do that day besides figuring out where to sleep, money was minimum as usual, so that meant finding a hidden place somewhere; maybe the piers, maybe a forest. At that moment I was not preocupied, I just wanted to wander around.
One of the first places you'll notice is the Plaza Fuerte, the ruins are still there and thinking that one day people gave their lives to protect it is just unimaginable.
Plaza Fuerte in Colonia del Sacramento.
Fire in the hole!
The streets still preserve the original pavement, the mixing beautifuly the old and the new. Walking here is just like going back to 16th century, when Portuguese and Spaniards started fighting for these lands.
Lovely charm on these streets.
Detail of that cool lamp.
Most of those houses are fancy restaurants.
Basilica De Santisimo Sacramento
The lighthouse in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, is dated back to 1857. It is located to help navigation along the La Plata River coast. You may know that I love lighthouses and I have seen many (7 in total), of all kinds of forms and heights, but this one just catches my eyes by its square shape changing into a classic circular cone. Also interesting is the fact that it was constructed on top of the old towers of the Convento de São Francisco, whose ruins can be seen on the picture. Everything in Colonia looks amazing.
More of the lovely streets and the lighthouse.
Colonia del Sacramento Lighthouse.
While wandering by the shore I took some time evaluating the pier, trying to find a hidden spot to sleep. That's when my love for sailboats really kicked in. Seing all those people enjoying a nice wine aboard their floating homes just awakened a desire that would never leave me. Oh if I had a sailboat like that, one day maybe.
One day I'll have my sailboat.
All over Colonia del Sacramento you'll find antique stuff. I've only decided to share this lovely Ford Model T, or the post would become gigantic. I'd rather see this old baby restored, but it still looks cool near the pier.
Ford Model T.
The final touch on that day was presented by the golden hour, I have no words to describe what I saw and how awesome it felt to contemplate such a magestic sunset. I'll leave the pictures speak for me.
Can you describe this?
Or this?
All that wandering around and pretending I was a photographer made me break my 'broke backpacker' rule N°1: Never ever wander around before finding a place to sleep.
This meant that I was aproaching night time, in an unknown city, with no money. My only real option was to keep on walking while paying attention to cool hidden spots to sleep, the night was hot and the sky clear, making things easier. I took some time to go to the supermarket to refuel food with the last bits of cash I had. At some point I encoutered some elderly ladies chilling in front of their house
- Ola, a question, please. Is the city safe? - I said.
They looked suspiciously to me, I could see their horror face in front of a crazy dude with a gigantic backpack in his shoulders and wearing a hat during the night
- Ahhhh, muy safe. - She said.
- Uffff, that's lovely. It's because I'm traveling here and I plan to sleep somewhere outside. - I explained.
- Muy bien, it's safe, you could try sleeping near the fire department. - She said.
I took directions and headed to the fire department, I'd try to sleep there. Bur no luck, they said I could try the beach. So I did
Cozy little bed.
What a night! I found a little hidden spot below some trees where no one could see me from the street above. The sand was soft, turning my sleeping mat into the best mattres, better than my own bed. In front of me the beautiful La Plata river. What else could I ask for? Living freely is indeed fantastic.
"Some say I'm insane. Who said I can't be?"
The other day I obligatory woke up early with the sun on my face, it was time to hitchhike again. But that is for another episode.
Hope you've enjoyed reading this long story, I swear I tried to make it smaller, but I couldn't. The next episodes of the Travel Story will bring much more craziness I've lived on this world of ours; because if you thought it was over, you are wrong! Haha!
If you've read everything until here, please, leave a little comment down below, it means a lot!
If you liked this post, please, consider leaving your upvote for a hot coffee.
~Love ya all,
Disclaimer: The author of this post is a convict broke backpacker, who has travelled more than 10.000 km hitchhiking. Following him may cause severe problems of wanderlust and inquietud. You've been warned.
I'm Arthur. I blog about Adventure Stories, Brazil, Travel, Camping & Life Experiences.
Follow me to stay tuned for more craziness and tips.
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Whaaaaatha, how am I supposed to pronouce? I'll try!
Loved this @mrprofessor - seems a while since I've read one of your great travel stories. I admire how you travel with hardly any money, talk to local people and sleep in all sorts of crazy places. I'd never be able to sleep on a beach these days, though I did a lot back in the day! Thanks for sharing your story with us. Beautiful photos - can see the Portugese influence with the blue tiles, which I remember from Lisbon! What a pretty place.
Heeey @riverflows, lovely!
I always wonder if this kind of post isn't way too big, but I feel like they look cooler being like little parts of a book. I'm glad you enjoyed.
I used to sleep anywhere on that trip, after 2 months I didn't even care anymore - it's terrifying at first but after a while we end up not caring anymore.
Isn't the little city super cool? it's so many influences there from it changing hands between Portugal and Spain. In the end it ended up with the Spanish and later in history it became what is known today as Uruguay.
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And the sneaky @curie attacks in the silence of night hahaha, thank you once more for the lovely vote of conficente.
lovely pic bro. sun set is awesome
Thank you @pushpen, that was indeed one of the most amazing sunsets I've seen.
excellent and complete post, beautiful images, I wanted to leave right now in this adventure.
Oh yeah @pedrocanella, have you ever been to Colonia del Sacramento, or Uruguay? It's so peacefull there that we can easly sleep on the streets.
Thanks for dropping a message, cheers.
Do not know. I'm from Rio de Janeiro living 1 year in Florianópolis, so I'm already closer to Uruguay. Any time, I'm going to. I like the cold and my tendency is to go down more and more towards the south ... haha.
ptgram power
If you come, drop me a message, I live 2 hours from the border! Uruguay during the winter is not only cold, but it's windy as hell, be prepared haha
Thanks for the invitation, I'll plan to go next year.
Ahhh to fall asleep on the beach. Sounds magical. Lovely travel story @mrprofessor 💙
Heeey @jessicaoutside, isn't it perfect? Especially when you know that people are walking on the street right above you and they have NO clue tht you are there HAHAHAH
There levels of beach sleep I guess, try that in Brazil and you'll pretty much wake up naked \o\
Thanks for dropping a message, it's lovely.
Hitch hiking is such an awasome experience. Nothing beats getting a free lift somewhere. Not even driving by yourself. I Hitch hiked in Waiheke Island ~the island of wine~
Just as well 😅
Absolutely @tomatom, for me it's one of the coolest ways to travel, even though now I explore more on my bicycle. We end up learning much more about the culture than we'd do by ourselves.
Thanks for passing by.
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Thank you very much, I'd upvote 3 times if I could hihihi
Arthur; I think you are the real thing ; thank you
for those beautiful pics , one of my dreams is to
visit Uruguay & taste there wines & music , Olé
Thanks @riv-maro! You should definitely go there. Uruguay is one of those countries that really hook you by the simplicity, everyone there is super cool and willing to help a traveller. It's also relatively safe, so perfect for hitchhiking or cycling.
hola buenos días
precioso lugar
feliz sábado
Ola @txatxy, muchas gracias de verdad! Yo no hablo español muy bien, especialmente en la escrita, hahahahah
feliz sabado y domingo a vos tambien