Colonia is a small town on the south coast of Uruguay. The old town is another world heritage site, with cobbled streets and mixed spanish and portugese architecture due to continual confict and changing ruling powers in its history. There isn't really much to say about the town but it's very picturesque and you can spend lots of time walking the quaint streets. In Uruguay and Argentina there is a popular habit of drinking Maté (pronounced Maa-tay). It's a type...

Our first stop in Uruguay was Salto. On crossing the border at about 6.30am after another 10 hour overnight bus trip, there was frost on the ground and we really know that we are heading south now. The days though are usually sunny if a little cold when the wind blows. An oil exploration in Salto many years ago hit upon thermal waters instead and this is now what the town is famous for. The water is pumped into numerous pools that have been built in a park area a...