We are in Colonia del Sacramento. Before I talk about here I've remembered a couple of things about Montevideo. When we arrived at the hostel the young girl on the desk ran through the usual. Leave your key when you go out, breakfast is 8-10, no guns, no drugs and no alcohol in the rooms. Then she lent forward very conspiratorially and said ' you look ok though so as long as you are discreet you can have alcohol in your room'. Oh brilliant but I've got to give up my gun !

I know foreigners probably think we are odd but shops abroad always confound me. In England I think we make connections. You know sort of 'one stop shop' approach. Buy a card in Clintons get a stamp there too. Get your sun tan lotion in Boots, get a travel plug.

It's just never like that abroad. Buy a postcard, go to the post office which shuts at midday to get a stamp. Today took the biscuit though. I looked in their version of Currys. I've gone to buy a washing machine. I tell you what while Im here why dont I buy a motorbike. I know, how does that work.

Anyway we left the hostel. The same girl on the desk phoned a cab and said it would meet us outside. Five minutes later she's outside waving it down. Then she gives us both a big hug and a kiss like she's known us forever. How sweet. No tongues though so she didnt like us that much !!

Anyway back to Colonia. It was a 2 hour bus trip from Montevideo. It is a popular place for day trippers from Buenos Aires across the water. We had a nice hostel a short walk from the bus station.

The old town is a cobbled sea side town. Very Spanish with shuttered windows and balconies etc. We are out of season so its been very quiet. Lots of restaurants with no one in them. It really is a very pretty place.

Today we took a 2 hour stroll along the beach and saw practically no one.....bliss. It's not a big place so a day and a half is about right. Tomorrow we are taking their version of a Sea Cat ferry to Buenos Aires for a few days.