One Day Trip to Uruguay
Just when I thought that I couldn’t check another country off my list…I did! The South American trip that I was on was only supposed to be Peru, Chile, and Argentina, but two days before we were supposed to come back home, I was walking down the coastline and my parents told me that we were actually going on a ferry to Colonia. Colonia del Sacramento is a beautiful island in Southwestern Uruguay. This is one of the oldest cities in Uruguay and has a population of around 27,000 people. Personally, this was my favorite country that I have visited in South America.
The ferry we rode on was a boat that had cars driving onto it. Like what? “How are we not sinking?” I thought to myself. It was my first time on a drive-on ferry. This boat was literally a miniature cruise ship/airplane with a store, coach seats, and a restaurant.
On shore, the first thing we did was rent a Kawasaki Mule. I know, amazing idea right? Well, it was pretty lit until you got onto those cobblestone roads at 35 miles per hour. Plus, I was riding on the back of the cart so…yeah, it was a very interesting experience. On the other hand, it was really nice to have when each sight was so far apart. Trust me, after walking around 12 miles a day, you appreciate a day when you can just hop on a car and go wherever.
The first place we went to was an old bullfighting arena. Although old and weathered, Plaza de Toros has many stories to tell. On January 9th, 1910, Plaza de Toros was opened. Supposed to be opened on January 8th, 1910, it was postponed for fear of the lack of materials needed for the opening bull fighting event. Public uproar caused the owners to open the following day with no less that 7,000 spectators, even though it was able to hold 10,000 spectators. The arena was able to host eight bull fights before bull fighting was outlawed in Uruguay in 1912. For certain safety reasons, the bull ring is forbidden to any spectators. Only the race course of this majestic arena is still in operation.
Our lunch in town was actually amazing. We ate at a restaurant called Restaurante del Centro. I had a three cheese ravioli and my parents had a local delicacy called chivito. Both meals were awesome. After lunch, we went to a local market with more souvenirs than a traveler could ask for, and then we were beach bound in jackets and pants. Food that tasted like home was just a bit of happiness added to my day.
Ah, the beach. Going to a beach seems to be a typical thing that a family would do right? The McGuires always know how to change the typical to atypical. Not only did we walk on the fluffy white sand and smell the ocean breeze, we decided to stop at the outdoor gym. I’m sorry, I just couldn’t help myself. I HAD to get my workout in for the day.
Uruguay made an impression on me that I will never forget. The citizens had the best hospitality of any South American countries that I have been to. The city also reminded me of my home; Alabama. I truly felt like I was back in America…well, with a Spanish twang. The town was so gorgeous and clean and the sidewalks were perfect. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but when you’ve seen all that I’ve seen, it means so much more than you could ever imagine to simply have hospitality, clean streets, and a slight touch of home.