Friday the 21st of March 2003- Day 31
Went to Colonia. Like a airport, I had to check in at 8.00am for my 9.00 O Clock Ferry. Went through baggage check in, screening, bag screening and immigration control. I took the slower 2 h 30 m ferry for 71 which included a city tour and an english bus. I just wasn't up to doing it solo, as I was in the Shamrock pub with Rory thee night before and I had a bit of a sore throat. Anyway the ferry left promptly and arrived in Colonia at 110.30. The bus was waiting and took us to a free lunch. You get a good discount if you are just doing a day trip, so had nice ham starter, ravioli lunch and dessert. They then took us the city tour to the bull ring, the old city etc. The Argentinean crisis has hit the town badly. Many of the residents, spenders and tourists were Argentinean but numbers have dropped and many are selling up. The streets were pretty empty and the cars old. But the town was very nice and it is an UNESCO World Heritage site. Some picture are below .
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Colina- Uruguay
Taken on the 21st of March 2003
This is one of the old town's oldest streets. Founded in 1680 by the Portuguese, Colonia was later disputed by the Spanish settled at the other bank of the river, in Buenos Aires. The colony kept changing from crown to crown due to treaties like Treaty of Madrid in 1750 and Treaty of Santo Ildefonso in 1777, until it finally remained with the Spanish. It belonged to the Portuguese again, and later to the Brazilian, after 1816, when the entire eastern bank (Banda Oriental) of the Uruguay was seized by the Rio de Janeiro government.
Click on the picture to see it in its original size
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Colina- Uruguay
Taken on the 21st of March 2003
Today, the city has expanded to the east, but its original part still keeps the "disarranged", terrain-fitting street plan in the oldest part, built by the Portuguese, contrasting nicely with the wider orthogonal calles in the Spanish area.
The historical parts of Colonia are held by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Click on the picture to see it in its original size
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Colina- Uruguay
Taken on the 21st of March 2003
Click on the picture to see it in its original size
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Colina- Uruguay
Taken on the 21st of March 2003
Taken from the top of the lighthouse.
Click on the picture to see it in its original size
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Colina- Uruguay
Taken on the 21st of March 2003
The old bull ring built by the Spanish. Fab looking building. Its banned there now.
Click on the picture to see it in its original size
The bus collected us at 5.45 (after giving us 2 free hours at the end), and got the 6.45 ferry back to Buenos Aires. The ferry left on time and arrived early to Buenos Aires at 9.30pm. You can actually see BA from Colina. Anyway, because it was my last night in BA and it was a Friday night, myself and Rory went to the Kilkenny. Met some people we met earlier in the week. Funny town, as the place did not get busy until 2.00am. Left at 5.00am as my bus was at 12.45 and I still had to pack.
Labels: backpacker, backpacking, blog, drifters, Gap Year, irish guy, neo-nomad, round the world trip, Vagabonding, Wanderers
posted by Michael at 1:43 AM
