Uruguay

  Colonia, Uruguay
Thursday, December 22, 2005

We took a two day trip out of Argentina over to Uruguay. After a quick 3 hour boat trip over the Río de la Plata we landed into Colonia del Sacramento in southwestern Uruguay.
It is the oldest town in the country and very cute! We spent two days relaxing in the quiet cobblestone streets of Colonia and just took in the quiet little town. It is a great day trip if you are ever in Buenos Aires.

We were fascinated by the number of people drinking a tea like drink called yerba mate or just mate. At dusk around half of all people in town walked around with a hot water jug under their arm and in their other hand a wooden cup with a metal straw with the cup filled with tea. Once the water is gone from the cup, they refill it with boiling water from the water jug.

Photo of the mate gourd:


We couldn´t seem to order it in a restaurant because everyone just carried theirs around with them on the street. Even carried them and drank from their cups on their mopeds!