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Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
34° 28' S 57° 50' W
Oct 24, 2006 16:04
Distance 1788km

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Other entries in Colonia del Sacramento

Iguaçu Falls and Uruguay

Text written in: English

Hi All

I last left you in Parati-Brazil.  That already seems like ages ago.  From Paraty we travelled overnight to Foz de Iguassu, the Brazilian side of the Iguassu falls.  We were joined in Foz by Marten a trainee Gap Tour leader, the male count is now at 2. Spent the day touring the falls, walking through sub tropical forests to reach the falls, had my first experience of South American wildlife in the form of a long nosed racoon, who saw I was carrying a bag and basically jumped on my arm and grab the bag containing a couple of biscuits I had in there he promptly ran off and eat them.  Bloody cheek!!! 

The noise is the first thing you hear and then through the trees you get your first glimpse of the falls.  Quite amazing and those where only the smaller ones.  Carrying on you walk to the 'Devil's Throat' the biggest and most powerful of the falls.  A refreshing mist covers you and you just take in the beauty of the place.  The next day we crossed the border into Argentina to see the Falls from the over side this time at a slightly different angle, still just as impressive.  That afternoon most of the group bordered a speed boat to go underneath the falls, sitting with France and Janice the other 2 water phobs in the group, we gripped on white knackled before the boats engines had even started.  What followed was a 20 minute speed sensation followed by the best power shower I've ever had as we went head first under one of the smaller falls.  Was a real scream.  On the way back noticed a fellow tourist had fallen foul of the racoons, this them they'd made off with 1/2 a sandwich, looks like I got off lightly.

We said goodbye to Foz and Brasil and headed over the border to Salto in Uruguay, more a logistically stop enroute to Montevideo, but we squeezed in a day at a thermal spa, although thermal really wasn't needed as it was around 32oc outside,  most of the group treated themselves to a pampering session, ready for another 6 hour bus trip to the capital of Uruguay.

Montevideo.

Spent a day walking around this lovely city, really feel the European influence here, not only in the architecture, but the make up of the population, mostly of Spainish and Italian origins. Was it not for the palm tree lined street you could easily have been Spain or Italy.  Locals very welcoming.  Montevideo lies on the coast of the Rio de la Plata and has miles of beaches to one side and is more or less completely flat on the other side. Established in the 1830's, it's main source of income coming from the Beef trade.  Could have happily spent a further few days there.  Definately number 1 spot in the South America top 10 for me so far.

Colonia del Sacramento

Further up the Rio del la plata lies the haven of Colonia, pictureque little town, lined with cobble streets and pretty housing, here for the day before we head to Argentina.  Buenos Aires here we come.

Will update photo's at my next stop.

Ola for now

Lisa