And we were off! Calm waters and a sunny day were the perfect combination for a seamless ride across the Río de la Plata, taking us from Argentina to Uruguay. Our first stop was Colonia del Sacramento, UNESCO World Heritage site filled with sycamores, cobble-stoned streets, cats, old vehicles serving as decoration, and high-class restaurants open at odd hours. Voilà, photos from that first half-day in Colonia:

Colonia proved quaint and compact, perhaps preparing us for Paris apartment sizes.

Cat guards

This art gallery owner was on the phone, simultaneously trying to kick a playful feline out of her shop. Gently pushing the cat out of the gallery with her foot, the woman only succeeded in finding a playmate, the cat playfully rolling onto his back to play with the woman’s shoe heel.

Fiery sunset

Lighthouse guard