Colonia del Sacramento

Today, we left Argentina and crossed the waters by ferry to Uruguay, specifically Colonia del Sacramento.

Colonia del Sacramento, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a remarkable history. Founded by the Portuguese in 1680, it became a point of contention between the Portuguese and Spanish empires for many years. The town's strategic location on the Rio de la Plata made it a valuable prize in the colonial struggle for dominance in South America. But mostly for tourists to explore now. The remains of the colonial buildings are still being excavated. However, what is left is still stunningly beautiful with the cobblestone streets and pastel-colored buildings. We walked around the entire village to explore (also to fill in Alex's Fog of World). I don't know if it's the cold keeping people away or what, but we basically had the place to ourselves, and it was so nice.

We stopped at a restaurant called Amor Amor, which was a cute name. There, we went full Uruguay by having the national dish and the national dessert.

In Uruguay, the "Chivito al Plato" main dish was a flank steak, with ham in top, under a layer of cheese and an egg to top it off. A side of regular salad and potato salad too with a serve of fries. The Chivito is said to have originated in the 1940s at a restaurant in Punta del Este, Uruguay. Legend has it that a tourist from Argentina requested a sandwich made with baby goat (chivito in Spanish), but the chef, lacking this particular ingredient, improvised by using thinly sliced beef instead.

For dessert, Uruguayans take pride in "chaja," a delightful confection that comprises layers of sponge cake, meringue, and peaches. This sweet treat reflects the nation's love for desserts that balance lightness with a touch of indulgence, making it the perfect way to round off our meal in Uruguay.Read more