In Uruguay... Let's Do Lunch
Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay - Sat, 29 Dec 2018 - 1pm
Around 11:30 this morning we landed in Colonia del Sacramento. Found in 1680 it's one of the oldest towns in Uruguay. Our first order of business was to get some lunch. ...Well, actually, our first order of business was to start visiting the historical quarter of town, the part that actually dates to 1680.
Control of what's today Uruguay passed back and forth between Portugal and Spain several times between 1680-1822, when it was held by a newly independent Brazil, until Uruguay won its own independence in 1828. With all this change of control the controllers built a wall and drawbridge to protect the town in 1745. And with all that change of control, the wall got knocked down a lot. After the last independence fight it lay in disrepair until late in the 20th century, when it was restored to its appearance today based on plans and sketches from the 18th century.
Once inside the historical quarter we started checking options for lunch. Colonia's a very touristy area, so the historical quarter is full of tourist friendly restaurants and cafes. We browsed through the first several we passed inside the wall but kept walking, figuring on the "Don't buy at the first (or second, or third, or fourth) stall where the cruise ship docks" rule. ...Not that we were on a cruise ship, but the rule applies for the same reason. The cafes all had similar menus so we wound up picking one on looks. It has a quainting dining room inside with high ceilings and exposed wood beams, and we scored a nice table next to a big open-air window.
The prices here seem very tourist-oriented, too. $15 equivalent for a plate of salmon? A bargain in New York or San Francisco, but 8000 miles away? Oh, wait, my plate just landed on the table and there's, like, a pound of salmon on it. Okay, maybe the prices aren't so bad....
Around 11:30 this morning we landed in Colonia del Sacramento. Found in 1680 it's one of the oldest towns in Uruguay. Our first order of business was to get some lunch. ...Well, actually, our first order of business was to start visiting the historical quarter of town, the part that actually dates to 1680.
Control of what's today Uruguay passed back and forth between Portugal and Spain several times between 1680-1822, when it was held by a newly independent Brazil, until Uruguay won its own independence in 1828. With all this change of control the controllers built a wall and drawbridge to protect the town in 1745. And with all that change of control, the wall got knocked down a lot. After the last independence fight it lay in disrepair until late in the 20th century, when it was restored to its appearance today based on plans and sketches from the 18th century.
Once inside the historical quarter we started checking options for lunch. Colonia's a very touristy area, so the historical quarter is full of tourist friendly restaurants and cafes. We browsed through the first several we passed inside the wall but kept walking, figuring on the "Don't buy at the first (or second, or third, or fourth) stall where the cruise ship docks" rule. ...Not that we were on a cruise ship, but the rule applies for the same reason. The cafes all had similar menus so we wound up picking one on looks. It has a quainting dining room inside with high ceilings and exposed wood beams, and we scored a nice table next to a big open-air window.
The prices here seem very tourist-oriented, too. $15 equivalent for a plate of salmon? A bargain in New York or San Francisco, but 8000 miles away? Oh, wait, my plate just landed on the table and there's, like, a pound of salmon on it. Okay, maybe the prices aren't so bad....