Colonia is what you might automatically assume from it's quaint name: colonial. It's rich history is studded with skirmishes between the Portuguese and the Spanish. Built as a Portuguese stronghold, it was eventually ceded to the Spanish as their interests in South America waned.
We arrived at 8am after landing in Montevideo at 4, which was proceeded by a 12-hour layover in the Lima bean. The first thing we noticed was a vast change in the color of the people and the architecture. Dating back to before the existence of our country, Colonia showed us ancient walls still standing and its church built with stone and nothing else.
Checked into a hostel for an eye-opening $39 which made us realize that we are in a developed country once again. Took a hot shower and felt like a million pesos. But don't get the wrong idea, the exchange rate is 18 pesos to the dollar. Feels a bit strange paying around a thousand pesos to spend the night.
Making the best of every situation, we two adventuring minds came up with the idea of renting a pair of two wheels and biking around this tourist town. If your mind was taking you to the motorized version with two wheels, you would be, unfortunately, mistaken. Though I would love to sprint around on the back of a trusty 90cc steed, Steph would have nothing of it. So we settled for a nice duo of Trek mountain bikes.
Took a pedal down to a secluded beach that reminded us of an Oregon vista (only with a great deal more litter). In town, Steph befriended a pack of feral hounds and rewarded the cutesy mutt by naming him Don Perro after he faithfully followed us around for an hour while we searched for a cheap hostel. He would wait outside for us until we left, then trot behind. His just reward when we had to part ways was a bite of bread.
Since Uruguay is just a bit more expensive (feel free to interpret the broad spectrum of sarcasm), we have obtained two tickets to paradise just an hour ferry ride across El Rip de la Plata to the Paris of South America, Buenos Aires. Details to follow.