During colonial times, Spain lost untold wealth in tax receipts to the Portuguese smuggling operations based at Colonia, on the eastern shore of the Rio de la Plata, opposite Buenos Aires. It still has a strong colonial feel, with its cobblestone streets and old houses. Apart from its visual charms, the small town is an unusually welcoming place for the traveler. It is a quiet town, with nice lodgings and restaurants, but no significant nightlife.