Because of schedules, we had to plan this trip during the US summer months, which means during the winter months in South America. Which was fine as it reduced the number of crowds and tourists, but it also means that my fleece sweater and wool cap were not enough to keep me warm at all times. It also means that when you hop a bus to a coastal town such as Playa de Piriapolis, in the winter is lined with vacant streets and closed hotels, where in the summer the roads are shoulder to shoulder with sunbathers.
Upon arrival, we followed the guidebook to a nice little place where luckily the lady who runs it was there. And after we inquired if there was an available room, she shockingly replied with a yes, which we later found out was because people rarely go to this town during the winter months randomly. Most placed in the town were closed for the winter. The room was very nice, with a little kitchenette and table. There was a propane space heater to warm the room, which did little other than force us to sit around it huddling for warmth.
After checking in, we decided to check out the town. The streets looked lovely, with no traffic or people on them. The waves were crashing the shores in a way that spread the cold water across the roads in a constant haze of salty rain. The town, in some ways, was nice with its abandonment. And even though I spent most of the time freezing, the beauty of the place made it very clear as to why the beaches are normally packed during the summer months with Spanish-speaking tourists getting out of the larger cities.
La Estacion de Cria de Fauna
The buses were still running, so we figured out how to hop a bus for a few excursions. North of Playa de Piriapolis, we found this little animal farm or zoo of some type. I didn’t take too many pictures as I found it a little depressing, never having been much of a fan of taking wild animals and sticking them into cages and corral for the entertainment of humans.
Castillo de Piria
This opulent house is called Castillo de Piria, the former home of Francisco Piria. A beautiful plantation with its own train leaving from the town to the house.