Slow Like Honey

Hey beautiful people! Today I want to tell you about my trip to Colonia del Sacramento (the official name given by the Portuguese when they first settled there but it's much easier and common to simply say Colonia).

Two weeks ago, I spent some time venturing outside of BsAs with my former flatmate - Chi Chi from England. That Saturday (July 5th! Oh, how time flies!), we went to Colonia, Uruguay. Not only was it beautiful, it was the perfect day trip to escape the (at times) stressful and hectic vibes of Buenos Aires. Colonia de Sacramento is a small city located across el río de la plata. it was about an hour high-speed boat ride (the slower ferry takes 3 hours. the efficiency/quicker travel time was certainly worth the extra bit of dough). the major draw of the city isn't just the novelty of entering into another country... but a barrio of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Barrio Histórico is the oldest city in the country. Part of me just wants to copy what my guidebook says about the city because it's a perfect explanation of the vibe... even though it's a bit cheesy:

"Only a short sail across the river from Buenos Aires, Colonia del Sacramento's picturesque 18th-century architecture has made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site and tourist town, but it's still a neighborly place whose residents sip mate on the sidewalk and chat across cobbled sycamore-shaded streets. Its unhurried pace - local motorists even stop for pedestrians - could not contrast more with the Argentine capital's frenetic tempo..." (exacto.)

Anyway. We went on what had to be the most beautiful day I've ever experienced during any "winter." The weather was glorious, with clear skies and perfect walking temperature. The day started off a bit bumpy when our horrible walking tour guide left us behind in the bus station after telling us she'd wait for us to use the bathroom. But everything got better from there... We spent the whole day wandering around the historic neighborhood and visiting their museums. Although the city stretches beyond the old stuff, we didn't stray far from the area. All in all: muy tranquila! Fue un día perfecto.

Oh. I don't really have any entertaining stories from that day… but one novelty of a fact: it's common for foreigners to travel to Colonia every three months for the day (or sometimes only a few hours). Why? Because the tourist visa only last 90 days… and it's easy for people to live here without acquiring some sort of official status - which i'm learning more and more… isn't just because Buenos Aires likes immigration from Buenos Aires, but that they don't have the structure to enforce the laws and control the people - which is becoming more apparent with other issues as well. I even met a UPENN grad who has been living here for 9-10 years and has never claimed residency by simply leaving the country and returning with a new tourist visa every 90 days…