Backpacking in Uruguay: Bus Back to Montevideo
Bus journeys become such a common aspect of travel, I’ve been on a bus in almost every country I’ve been to. To some people, bus journeys are boring and uninspiring.
I enjoy them as a way to see the world from the quiet comfort of a window. As well as getting an onboard flavour for local culture.
Uruguay is tiny, housing just 3 million people, most of whom live on the south coast. A lot of them live in the capital city, Montevideo. This means there are not many overnight options, and bus travel tends to be by day.
I must admit I found bus travel in Uruguay to be easily the safest in South America (and I’ve been on a bus in every country there except Chile, French Guyana and Guyana). The journeys were short and long, the staff very helpful and the risk of theft really was minimal. I held onto my bags in Venezuela, Peru, Colombia and Bolivia. Here in Uruguay I really relaxed, flashing my iPod and camera and enjoying the views.
I made quite a few long bus trips in Uruguay and many short trips. Every day to get to Spanish School I got the bus there and back (actually except for a few times when I decided to walk and enjoy the main street Avenida 18 de Julio). I used Copsa, Cot and Seacat Bus, and found them all to be secure, reliable and on time.
I came back to Montevideo after a few days travelling round the south of Uruguay. Once this bus arrived back, that was me settled again for 2 weeks with Perla, in my new abode in Guana 2077 in the Parque Rodo district. It really is a funny world you know and right then I could have settled in Uruguay. But money, time and wanderlust intervened.
If I had got a job in Montevideo, improved my Spanish and been breaking even, it’s possible I’d have stayed there. It’s the first non-English speaking city I called my home.
And there it is – my new home at Guana 2077 in Parque Rodo.
And my bedroom – green of course, well that was by chance and just the kind of luck I needed to start my new life as a student in Uruguay.
And finally, a photo of Colonia del Sacramento – the city I left before taking this bus back to Tres Cruces in Montevideo. Tres Cruces is the main bus station in Montevideo. Once my bus arrived there, I had already planned in my head the walk to my new abode, where Perla awaited. The walk took me around 30 minutes in the sweaty heat and with a busy bag. It was home sweet home again.
Transport Used – Bus
Nationalities Met – Uruguayan
Bus From – Colonia del Sacramento to Tres Cruces in Montevideo
COLONIA DEL SACRAMENTO:
BUS FROM COLONIA DEL SACRAMENTO TO MONTEVIDEO:
NEW HOME IN GUANA 2077, PARQUE RODO, MONTEVIDEO:
Jaja how funny the video of the room of our home, i´m glad you liked our country, what a shame that i couldn´t get to meet you, maybe next time you visit us. Loved your blog and the huge trip that you are having.
Andres (Perla´s son)
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