5 days in Uruguay

Left Buenos Aires on Sunday night with Buquebus Ferries – v well organised. All the 3 hr ferries to Montevideo were full so we took the 1hr service to Colonia & then a 2.5hr bus to Montevideo. All went very smoothly. Got to Montevideo after midnight & no-one spoke English! Thank God for Alex. Got the 2.30am bus to Punta del Diablo, arrived 6am. Found hostel and had to sleep in hammocks in the garden until reception opened for check in.

Punta del Diablo is a really relaxed place...the main 'street' in the village is full of corrugated iron shacks brightly painted like in La Boca in Buenos Aires.



When we got there there was almost no other back packers around. The other tourists there were mainly Uruguayans & Argentinians, which made communication especially difficult for me & helped with my decision to go to Cordoba next and spend a couple of weeks learning Spanish. Spent Monday on the beach (where I have to admit I got a bit scorched). Monday night a big storm came in and lasted all day Tuesday so we just hung out in the hostel that day...did some reading and catching up on emails. Wednesday was another bright sunny and hot day, spent the morning at the beach, collected our stuff from the hostel and started the journey back to the west coast of Uruguay...Colonia del Sacramento.

Colonia is fabulous! I cant recommend it highly enough...my favourite place so far! It was very hot when we were there (30C in the shade) and it seemed like we had the place to ourselves the streets were so quiet. It's geared for tourists, in that in most places people spoke a few words of English, most shops/restaurants will accept argentinian pesos, dollars or euros as well as Uruguayan pesos, but none of it is in an 'in-your-face' manner. A very laid back spot and a super way to spend a couple of days...wandering through the picturesque streets, in cafes or visiting the beach (but the water is not great for swimming in).

Our hostel El Viajero (Hostel & Suites) were very helpful in putting me in contact with people to go horse riding with. If you want to go horse-riding in Uruguay then I cant recommend www.cabalgatasenuruguay.com enough. I was given a super horse called Naivo for the morning. First we went out to round up the cattle, then hacked out into the countryside. Passed through fields of corn & soya, saw farmers making hay bales and raced along the roads' grassy verges as fast as I dared go. Enrique & Sandra tailor the activities to suit your level and I was completely happy with the morning's ride. Uruguay is a beautiful country and I could happily have spent more time there but it was time to head back to Buenos Aires, collect the rest of my luggage from the hostel and organise some Spanish lessons in Cordoba...so after saying a fond goodbye to Naivo....Alex & I headed back to BA on the ferry and checked into our hostel in San Telmo for a final night in Buenos Aires.

A week in Buenos Aires

January 10, Sunday
Plane took off from Dublin without any problems, operations back to normal at the airport. Snowing lightly in Madrid when we landed. Bus transfer from Terminal 4 to Terminal 4S, not underground train as described on Madrid airport’s website.
After pulling an all-nighter to get packed, was wrecked & had slept from the minute the plane took off until the announcement to prepare cabin for landing. Subsequently starving when I arrived in T4S. Went to Harry J Beans burger joint, 1 large cheeseburger, chips & coke later (EUR 10 – pricey for a reheated burger & chips in Madrid but prob still cheaper than Dublin), am feeling a bit more awake. Still have 5 hours to kill though....
January 11, Monday
After an extra 2 hour delay in Madrid due to snowy weather, finally arrived in BA. Took a taxi to the hostel because had missed my shuttle connection due to the delays. Walked into the room and met a german girl called Alexandra who is travelling by herself as well. She invited me to “La Bomba” with some other people so off I went to a tribal music show 5 mins after arriving!
January 13, Wednesday
Lunch with Pablo in Puerto Madero. Explored the area on foot, visited the Frigate ship Sarmiento, Plaza de Mayo, Pink house, Florida & Lavalle shopping streets.
Back to hostel & room is full of Irish girls! Grainne/Isabelle/Anne/Gwen/Fran. One from P’laoise – knows the family. Tango lesson & milonga with Grainne/Isabelle at Confiteria Ideal – great fun.
January 14, Thursday
Lunch with Grainne & Isabelle in Palermo, cool little book shop/cafe at 1762 Thames. Bus tour of city with Anne/Gwen/Frances. Saw Recoleta, San Telmo, La Boca. All went well til Gwen’s bag was stolen at 9 de Iulio subte station :(. Met Pablo & Pablo & Kike from Accenture for dinner & drinks in Puerto Madero, asia de cuba club.
January 15, Friday
Fran’s birthday! Ladies that lunch had a picnic in the park to celebrate!
Irish girls Anne/Gwen/Fran left today for Mendoza. Isabelle, Grainne & I went out with the Accenture guys to a party of a friend of a friend, then to club Niceto in Palermo. Pretty cool spot, got home in the early hours.
January 16, Saturday
Isabelle & Grainne left for Bariloche today, and Alexandra arrived back from Iguassu. Went to another milonga, this time in Palermo, less touristy. Was great fun. Got spun around the dance floor by a little old man who congratulated me on staying upright at the end of the song!
January 17, Sunday
Checked out of hostel and went to ferry terminal to book our tickets to Uruguay. 1 hour ferry to Colonia del Sacramento then 2.5 hour bus to Montevideo with Bugquebus Ferries. From Montevideo we will take a 5 hour bus to Punta del Diablo.