When you arrive in Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay, just a short one hour Seacat ride from bustling Buenos Aires, you soon find yourself lost in an oasis of charm that refreshes you and leaves you calmly satisfied. This feeling ratifies the words of the welcome brochure handed out on arrival at the hostel, which boldly and proudly proclaims: “Colonia del Sacramento with it blend of history and poetry, welcomes you warmly. Your visit will be unforgettable due to the beauty you’ll find in its streets, coast, Old Town, and different points of interest, including the colorful sunsets. This corner of the Rio de la Plata is safe and peaceful; it will leave a pleasant memory.”

Colonia  is a town to stroll to your heart’s content, a spontaneous meandering, as you discover new sights round every corner. It is certainly photogenic, even in winter, with leaves missing from trees. There are cobbles, a lighthouse, a port, ramblas a plenty, quaint squares, an old city wall, ruins, bars, cafes and restaurants in abundance. It seems that live street music is a staple here. As I entered the main square I came across an eight man band singing Uruguayan folk songs, which everybody except me seemed to know. Old ladies in traditional local costumes danced along. Later, a smaller group, no less enthusiastic, and just as well received, sang and played into the sunset, using the backdrop of the city wall to add to the ambiance.

There is a wealth of history here in Colonia. Founded by the Portuguese in 1680 to smuggle goods across the river into Buenos Aires, it was eventually captured by the Spanish. There are various museums too, to break up the walking, although a cafe con leche or ice cream can serve the same purpose, depending how cultural you are feeling.

Rather than visit a museum, I chose to eat outside a restaurant with a really picturesque view of the 19th century lighthouse, which you can ascend for panoramic views of Colonia and the river.  It stands in the ruins of a convent. As I enjoyed my paella and a cool beer, the sparrows landed on my table, hoping for a crumb or two, while a stray dog also wandered round hopefully.

It is a really pretty town, colorful and charming, although there are some areas and buildings which have fallen into disrepair. The last two photos here show a building with the grafitti slogan: necesito magia para sobrevivir– I need magic to survive. It would certainly take a lot of hard work to repair that particular building, but it has been done before. Hopefully one day the Restaurante del Phoenix will stand on the spot.

Water shots:

Live street music shots

Restaurant shot

Delapidation shots

Words and photos by Si @cre8ivation