Where We Be
Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
The picturesque little town of Colonia del Sacramento
is in Uruguay but it's only just across the Rio de la
Plata River from Buenos Aires and easily reachable
via an hour-long ferry ride. Its cobblestone streets
are lined on both sides with rows of shade trees, and
its Historic District is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Colonia is one of those towns where every corner
you turn seems to offer another picture-worthy view:
corridors filled with hanging flowers, ornate iron
grates on windows, strikingly colored buildings,
courtyards brimming with flowers, trees covered in
blooms, hummingbirds flitting from one flower to the
next, lanterns giving off a soft yellow glow, and
quaint patio restaurants with umbrellas for shade.

In the late afternoon of our second day, we sat on a
lovely outdoor patio at the Plaza de Armas and had
one of the longest and most relaxing lunches we can
ever remember. We sat there a good three hours or
so as we munched on a "super-lomito" sandwich with
fries. A super-lomito, in case you're wondering, is a
tasty, cholesterol-rich steak sandwich with lettuce,
tomato, and cheese topped with ham and a fried egg.
Perhaps the highlight of the meal was the bottle of
Uruguayan malbec wine we shared as we watched the
world go by.
Colonia del Sacramento, founded in 1680 -- impossibly picturesque today
Tree-lined streets with sun-dappled cobblestones make for an irresistible combination
Robin stands before an ornate doorway
Stylish iron window grating
The compact Historic District is perfect for an evening stroll
This long, leafy corridor calls out for a stroll
The town still has remnants of its colonial fortifications
Faded red building with tiled roof
Old brick-and-stone buildings like this exude character
Buildings like this one surprise you with a splash of bright color
One of dozens of courtyard gardens in Colonia
Who needs a bench when you can sit on a cannon?
Are the trees always this lovely or did we time our visit just right?
This old car is filled with vegetation like an enormous planter box!
The "Street of Sighs" reminds you that life can be lived at a slower pace
Lighthouse and cypress trees almost look like a slice of Italy
The reconstructed 1745 city gate offers the most dramatic entrance into town
We climbed to the top of this lighthouse for an overview of the town
Patio restaurants with umbrellas beckon you to take a load off and relax a bit
This odd-shaped bottle of Uruguayan malbec was the highlight of our extra-long lunch