Snapshots of Uruguay

Recently I've been doing a lot of reminiscing about South America. Of the many places I'd love to revisit, I can't stop thinking about Uruguay. One of the most memorable places we visited on our trip was Colonia del Sacramento - a picture perfect Uruguayan town just across the river from Argentina.

We decided to take an impromptu day trip to Uruguay during one of our slower days in Buenos Aires, so we spontaneously hopped a ferry and traveled across the Río Plata to spend the day exploring picturesque Colonia. Everything about this well preserved colonial town emanates charm. The quaint cobblestone streets are scattered with candy colored houses, adorned with lush vines of ivy twisting up iron gates. The rustic paths are spotted with enamored tourists admiring vintage cars, colorful flowers and abandoned bicycles. An antiquated lighthouse keeps watch over the small town, brimming with history and charisma.

We wandered aimlessly through the town, indulged on savory ice cream, and followed our cameras through the labyrinth of colorful alleys. The atmosphere was relaxed and slow, an appreciated contrast from our fast-paced trek through Argentina and Peru. We leisurely soaked up the warm sun, strolled through the plazas, watched boats lazily pass by at the marina, and enjoyed every peaceful moment that Colonia offered us. 

Our relaxing day in Uruguay turned into a memorable highlight of our trip. While we didn't realize how badly we needed a day to slow down and simply wander, Colonia unexpectedly rejuvenated us. We left the town feeling reenergized and ready to return to the beautiful chaos of Buenos Aires.

Have you ever taken a day trip that completely surprised you?

Where is the most picturesque place you've visited?

Best and Worst Cuisines Abroad

Throughout my travels, I've tasted some truly incredible dishes... and some pretty terrible ones as well. There've been countries that have stood out as gastronomic superstars, and others that have flopped horribly. From the divine to the downright disgusting, here's what I've found to be the most impressive and disappointing cuisines abroad:

Best Cuisine: Greece

How could I not choose Greek food as my favorite international cuisine? No other country has so effortlessly seduced my taste buds. Between the fresh vegetables, rich feta, mouthwatering dolmades and flavorful tzatziki, Greece exemplifies foodie heaven.

Cretan salad with mizithra cheese

Baked eggplant at Roka - my favorite restaurant in Santorini

Read more about my favorite gluten free Greek dishes here!

Second Runner Up: Mexico

Do I feel a little guilty for not saying Spain? Maybe. But I mean... Mexican food.

The best meal I've ever had was at a roadside taco stand in Ensenada in 2007. Every year back in junior high and high school I went on volunteer trips to Mexico with my church - so on every trip, we got to try the amazing street food. The tacos al pastor I had at this particular stand blew my taste buds out of the water. Needless to say, it redefined what real  Mexican food should taste like... and I've been addicted ever since. 

The only photo I took of "the best meal I've ever had"... foodie blasphemy. Judge if you must.

Worst Cuisine: The UK

I'm hoping this doesn't get me any hate mail. So let it be known: I absolutely love the UK. I would go back to London and Edinburgh in a heartbeat. 

That said, some of the most abominable meals I've tried abroad were in the UK. Haggis, deep fried Mars bars, bangers and mash, English breakfasts, mystery meat pub food... the list goes on. I know that there are some really great modern/international/fusion options to be found, but if we're specifically talking about "traditional" dishes, then everything I tried made my stomach churn.

Savoring the only good meal I had in Scotland at the Elephant House Café. My enjoyment of this meal may or may not have been heavily influenced by the fact that JK Rowling wrote parts of Harry Potter here.

In other words, pub food is not my jam. Coffee > tea. And who in their right mind eats beans and tomatoes for breakfast?!?

Dear lovely readers in the UK, please don't hate me. And if you passionately disagree with me, then I will gladly take your recommendations for the next time I visit! I'm willing to be proven wrong!

Second Runner Up: Germany

Unless beer is a food group, the gastronomy of Germany did nothing to impress me. (But who am I kidding, I didn't even get to try the beer in Germany because I couldn't find any gluten free options. So I'm just trusting everyone else who says that the beer is actually good there.) 

The sausages, sauerkraut, cold cuts and salads I tried were bland, uninspiring and often less-than-appetizing. I've never been less enthused about trying the local grub. While I truly adored Bavaria, I found German food to be nothing special.

What are your favorite and least favorite cuisines you've tried abroad? 
Is there a country whose gastronomy stands out as the best or the worst?

Welcome to this week's Travel Tuesday Linkup with A Compass Rose!

Every week Bonnie, Cynthia, Yalanda and I will choose one post from the previous week's linkup to be featured. Make sure to check out their blogs to see who they chose!

This week I am featuring Sara of A Different Piece of Sky and her post on Gouda, The Netherlands. As an avid cheeseaholic, I was sold on visiting Gouda almost immediately upon reading her post! Sara's recap has undoubtedly inspired me to take a day trip to this darling town next time I visit Amsterdam.

Ready to link up?

1. Share a post about travel! 

2. Grab the lovely button below. If you run into any trouble, just make sure to mention Bonnie, Cynthia, Yalanda or me in a link.

3. Linkup goes live every Tuesday at 0800 GMT. Make sure to comment here, on the co-hosts blogs, and visit around!

Tips:

1. Please only one linked up post per blogger. Save other posts for future linkups!

2. The last Tuesday of the month will be a themed prompt if you want to join in!

3. Hop around and meet new travel loving bloggers! Check back to visit some of the newer travel posts! 

Medieval Charm in Ávila

Spain just makes you feel a certain way. There's something particularly magical about the small towns that transport you back in time to a different era. In the quaint village of Ávila in Castilla y León, this sense of old world enchantment still holds strong.

Just an hour and a half outside of Madrid, this charming UNESCO World Heritage Site is most famous for its ancient medieval walls surrounding the town, also known as La Muralla de Ávila. From atop these walls you can admire spectacular views of the colorful town below, as well as the rolling hills of the Spanish countryside in the distance. 

Though the sights to see are limited, the old-fashioned squares and quiet alleys nestled within the fairytale-esque walls are perfect for wandering aimlessly. With nuns ambling down the street and abuelos  leisurely chatting in picturesque plazas, Ávila brings small town charm to a whole new level.

Since Ávila is well known for their beef, one of their most popular traditional dishes includes chuletón de Ávila - otherwise known as juicy T-bone steak. Strolling through Ávila you will also find many shops selling yemas de Santa Teresa, the town's famed dessert comprised of egg yolk, syrup and lemon juice. Just the right combination of savory and sweet, these treats were perfect to snack on as we explored the deserted streets during siesta  time.

La Muralla de Ávila

My Ávila Picks:

Favorite Restaurant: Soul Kitchen

Best Views: From atop the Muralla

Can't Miss Sights: The Muralla, the cathedral and Plaza de la Victoria

Must-Try Dishes: Chuletón and yemas

Best Thing to Do: Wander aimlessly!