Crossing To Uruguay

19 February 2009By Zhu 14 Comments

Buenos Aires Harbor

Not yet tired of Buenos Aires, its huge steaks and great nigtlife, we nonetheless decided to travel further, to Uruguay, a country we had never been to. Montevideo was supposed to be a great capital, small and safe enough to be traveled easily, yet very nice to visit.

Uruguay is right across the Rio De La Plata, a short three hours boat ride from Buenos Aires. We boarded the Eladia Isabel ferry with about 2,000 other people (or so it seemed) and watched Argentina´s capitale fading away in the glaring sun.

I soon realized that the Rio De La Plata wasn´t your usual boring blue river. It was a nice bronze color, rich of the copper flowing from the Amazon. The resulat was a cocoa-colored water – not muddy, just creamy. It contrasted deeply with the green deck of the boat and the deep blue sky, making us feel like we were navigating a giant cappucino. Yummy.

Uruguay, on the other side, looked much greener than Buenos Aires. We passed small bushy island and we saw colonial buildings, far away. A peaceful view.

We jumped on the bus, barely out of the boat, and dozed off on our way to the capitale.

On The Boat

Leaving Argentina

Going Away

Bronze Water

Looking Through The Buoy

Proxima Estacíon: Uruguay

Oh So Colorful

Uruguay´s Lighthouse

14 Comments »

Zhu (author) said:

@Seraphine – I agree, three hours is perfect, especially we are used to 10+ hours bus rides. It was a nice welcome change!

@DianeCA – No, it is really free time! We do take backpacking seriously We saved up the money before we left and I´m hoping to use some of my travel material (like pics) in the future.

@Sidney – I just needed to escape the winter!

@Linguist-in-Waiting – It is part of the South America on a shoestring. Most traveler just go to Colonial for the day (the first city is right where the boat stops from Argentina) but Montevideo is a awesome capital. We missed the country the first time and I don´t regret visiting this time.

@Benjamin Gedan –

The Lonely Planet’s Argentina guide includes a short chapter on Uruguay (and a chapter on Paraguay). I just returned to the U.S. after a year living in Montevideo, and I definitely recommend Uruguay as a destination.

Most Argentines only visit Uruguay’s beach resorts at Punta del Este, or stop over in Colonia, just across the river. But Montevideo, among its many understated charms, has an incredible waterfront worth several days of simply strolling, sipping mate and napping.

@Seraphine –

a three-hour boatride sounds like fun. it’s enough time to drink coffee, read a newspaper, talk with an interesting fellow traveler. i love looking at the water, and seeing interesting new things pass by. then just when you start to get sleepy, when your chin starts to drop, you’ve arrived! BRRHOHNNN goes the horn and everyone stands up.

@DianeCA –

I agree with the first comment…this is one heck of a long holiday! Are you on assignment or is this really free time?? Looks totally amazing though, we are all just jealous! or envious is probably a better word…I am looking forward to ‘arriving’ in Uruguay, I must admit I never expected to go there.

@Sidney –

I am jealous of your travels… you see a lot in a short time !

@Linguist-in-Waiting –

Uruguay! What’s to be seen? The thing is, I don’t see any guidebooks for that country. No Lonely Planet Uruguay, just perhaps a chapter on the South America on a Shoestring book. Let us know!

@Benjamin Gedan – Hi there and thanks for your comment! I agree, Uruguay is a great country not to be missed. Too bad most people go to Brazil through Foz or just stop in Colonial for a day. I loved Montevideo, and the beaches up North are great. You must have loved it! What did you do there for a year? Just curious!

# 23 February 2009 at 8:19 pm

Benjamin Gedan said:

The Lonely Planet’s Argentina guide includes a short chapter on Uruguay (and a chapter on Paraguay). I just returned to the U.S. after a year living in Montevideo, and I definitely recommend Uruguay as a destination.

Most Argentines only visit Uruguay’s beach resorts at Punta del Este, or stop over in Colonia, just across the river. But Montevideo, among its many understated charms, has an incredible waterfront worth several days of simply strolling, sipping mate and napping.

# 22 February 2009 at 1:51 pm