Punta del Este: A Rainy Weekend In Paradise

3 months flew by and just before I knew it, I had to renew my tourist visa for Buenos Aires. The wonderful thing about Bs. As., other than the beef and beauty, is that the city is across the river from Uruguay. A 1-hour ferry ride got me and my buddies to Colonia, but we didn´t want to stay in the quaint town. We wanted beach.

From Colonia we took a 5-hour bus ride to Punta del Este, a well-recognized getaway spot for the porteños (Argentines). What I saw of the countryside was nothing at all quick of breathtaking. It´s humble with small hills, a handful of trees, lots of cows, sheep, and horses. But a thing about it created my heart warm. Possibly it was the tiny towns we passed by means of, the little ones playing football, the adults sipping mate. Or, perhaps it was seeing what a nation truly appears like, how the people today definitely reside, on the inside.

We checked into our hostel, El Viajero, around six p.m., took a siesta, showered and were pumped to start the weekend. When we were about to hit the town, we walked outside and saw that it was pouring rain. What a bummer. We asked a single of the ladies at the desk exactly where to go and she mentioned El Puerto, the Port.

Soon after a scrumptious dinner — asado de tira (ribs), provoleta (plate of melted cheese), y ensalada — at el Triángulo, we hopped over to the Port. As it is in Buenos Aires, it was about 2 a.m. and the parties had been just receiving started. There were three bars at the Port: Soho, Moby Dick and Mamba. Moby Dick had a wicked vibe with a live cover-band playing all the classic American hits from yesteryear, thick Uruguayan accents and all. The place was packed and my preferred celebration place of the three. The Soho was a dance club, not as opposed to most that you obtain anyplace, but a little stiff. Mamba was a multi-space venue with Latin beats blasted and a dance floor filled with close speak to, like dancing sardines, but the crowd was loving it.

The next day was overcast but we had been blessed with no precipitation. We hopped the regional bus and rode the 20 minutes to La Barra, just up the coast. We have been told by many to see Bikini Beach, which we did, and which we loved. The sand is granular and doesn´t stick to bags, clothing, bathing suits, eyes, ears, mouth and nose. Definitely worth considering if you have to wear the exact same bathing suit or use the identical towel for a couple of days. From time to time hostel showers can´t pretty clean every little thing.

The waves had been strong in height and power, sucking me down a couple of instances, but I doggy-paddled to safety. The surfers have been out in the cove catching decent waves, the fishermen lined the rocks catching the days dinner, and regardless of the lack of sun, every person seemed to be catching some color. It´s a great day when you leave with a tan and not a burn.

That night we hit up El Diablito, a club on the coast with a deck that overlooks the water. Considering that the venue is on the east-side of the point that tends to make Punta del Este, you can celebration watching the sunrise.

The subsequent day was raining and uneventful. All hostellers were trapped indoors, producing it cozy and, at times, a little uncomfortable. There was, actually, nowhere to sit. We decided to spend our last evening on a worthy dinner, seafood at Leandro´s. The merzula and abadejo, two varieties of white-fish, have been melt-in-your-mouth, like a stick of butter. If you are not a fish individual, I hugely suggest the ñoquis in a salsa rosa, rosé sauce, also a melt-in-your-mouth practical experience.

Bellies complete and elated from the deliciousness, we headed back to the hostel. We checked the forecast and Monday was supposed to gorgeous. So we decided to remain in, catch an early sleep in preparation for an early rise. And that we did. We spent all of Monday on La Brava Beach, also on the east side, catching up on sun. The beach also had finer sand, which created for an awkward bus/ferry ride home.

Upon re-entering Argentina, as a Canadian, I was prepared to pay a visa-charge. Nonetheless, customs just stamped my passport and I went by means of. I am questioning if the fee only applies to travelers going through Ezeiza International Airport. Maybe I will have to spend an exit charge, which has also been the word on the street. Nonetheless, I don´t seriously have any new data of the visa fee, like I promised I would, other than you don´t have to spend to come back from Uruguay.

Would I go back? To check out, completely. On the other hand, from what I saw, it reminded me of Florida, which could not necessarily be a undesirable factor. There had been a lot of new high-rise buildings, a bit rundown, and a party scene that relies on short-term visitors. For a weekend, it was stunning. For something loner, I want the city.

By Brit Weaver

About the Author

Toronto born and primarily based, Brit is an avid leisure cyclist, coffee drinker and below-a-tree park-ist. She usually finds herself meandering foreign cities seeking for street eats to nibble, trees to climb, a patch of grass to sit on, or a little bookstore to sift through. You can uncover her musing life on her individual blog, TheBubblesAreDead.wordpress.com.