Bailey Ackerman a student at the University of Pittsburgh and an ISA Featured Photo Blogger. She is currently studying abroad with ISA in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
A quick day trip to another country is something most people associate with Europe. They’re not wrong: so many smaller countries in such close proximity and an extensive train system lends for some amazing international travel in short periods of time. However, I was lucky enough to experience this in South America the other day when I got to travel to Colonia, Uruguay with my ISA group. Just an hour away from Buenos Aires by boat, Colonia is a charming little port town with an impressive amount of history.
We had a tour of the city, where we got to see the City Gate, which used to protect the city in its relatively hectic past. It was constantly being conquered and passed back and forth between the Portuguese and the Spanish, who both wanted it for its valuable proximity to the water.
We had to crouch down uncomfortably low so as not to hit our heads in the cramped space climbing up this historic lighthouse, but the view from the top was worth it.
Our perfect day ended with a great sunset. I never would’ve thought coming to study abroad in Argentina would have gotten me a stamp from Uruguay in my passport, but that’s the amazing part about studying abroad: stepping out of your comfort zone and moving to another country opens you up to new experiences every day.
The world awaits…discover it.