09.07.2015
Colonia de Sacramento (Uruguay)
Due to the national Independence day of Argentina, when every public institute (including museums) are closed, I decided to switch city (and country) for one day, and I took a ferry to Colonia, the oldest city of Uruguay, which is just 50 km away from Buenos Aires. The governor of Rio de Janiero founded the city in a strategic peninsula at the fallout of the Rio de la Plata, by Portugal royal decree with the intention to pis of the Spanish in Buenos Aires. The intention reached the target, because in the year of the foundation the Spanish conquered the city. In a few years the Portuguese retook it. In 100 year the city changed hands altogether nine times between them. After the war of independence against Brazil the city became part of Uruguay.
The city is a small treasure-chest, and shows a special mix of Spanish and Portugal architectures. The city wall was reconstructed on the ruins of the original with materials found of the ancient wall. They are now trying to rebuild the old city gate with the same method, but still collecting and searching the old stones of the original gate. Their are in every corner a small museum, where they proudly show the Spanish and Portugal history of the city. The lightning of the city is made by the original candelabras (switched to electricity), it is very cozy at night.
About being cozy... I don't understand how it happens but I got stranded in Colonia. I lost my ship, bye queueing in the wrong line... When I realised the mistake, the ship has already left. And the last ship for tonight was already full. So, I searched a nice cozy hotel, and bought my ticket for tomorrow morning online. "The feeling is priceless, for everything else there is MasterCard..."