Colonial del Sacremento, URUGUAY

A three hour ferry ride across the Rio de la Plata took me today from Buenos Aires to the small town of Colonia del Sacremento in Uruguay .

Founded in 1680 by Portuguese settlers from Brazil, Colonia del Sacremento was an important base for smugglers (into Argentina) through most of its existence. The historic centre is built on a peninsula that juts into the Rio de la Plata. ....with some very interesting architecture and pretty streets. I´d say a little gem of a town not yet discovered by hordes of tourists. The town was extremely calm today (probably like every day) which allowed me to take pictures standing right in the middle of the main street during "rush hour" without having to worry about the traffic.

Colonia del Sacremento is charming and lively, with some beautiful old colonial buildings and good beaches nearby. A couple of good restaurants to keep me happy....where you can find Parrillia (BBQ) at about US$4 for a nice succulent steak with wine.

From Colonia I am going up north tomorrow to the town of Carmelo and the next day to Nueva Helvicia. Then back to Buenos Aires for the weekend and then I fly to the far far south to the town of Ushuaia...the most sourthern town in the world (and hopefully on to Antactica). After a week in the mountains and glaciers, I come back to Buenos Aires and then up to the far north to the swamps at Esteros del Ibera (to hopefully photograph the Anaconda and Capybara) and then later onwards to the northern provinces of Salta and Jujuy near Bolivia.

We live in a beautiful world with beautiful people -- when was the last time you appreciated our world?