Well, I have had a fairly uneventful journey so far. I was borderline almost ready to barf as I got on the plane with dread of this part of the trip. Sad admission from a world traveler and a chic who went to Egypt, but this one had just gotten under the mental trap doors. So, had 2 glasses of wine with dinner on plane + ambient and woke up 90 min before landing without any unpleasant memories of the overnight flight. Better vacations through chemistry! Buenos Aires airport looks like someone built an old 1960s airport in Memphis, TN and then spent the next 30 years making it look like it belonged in a Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome movie. There were signs everywhere that said renovations “2000”—and we are just shy of 2010-- and the place was still a wreck. Including the broken escalator that every grandma had to walk down carrying all their luggage to Immigration. It was over 1.5hrs in line to go through customs in what even I considered a warm room (read: the Mensans-with normal blood flow in their veins--would have been passed out 10 min!)
Got totally jacked on the $ for the cab ride here. Surprise! Single blonde female in a Hispanic country. My hope is that his family sees some of the excess cash before he spends it on cigarettes and soccer. The city description I will save for another day as its really complicated. Suffice to say that I think that the hey day for this place predated the Mad Max airport by 30 years.
The Hilton is world class and very nice. And by that I mean in a country with a depressed currency, its still possible to find internet service that costs $20 US/day and bottled water in the bathroom at $9. Just like home! Got a fabulous room on 7th floor overlooking the city. The hotel is right on the water, and directly across from – get this—a HOOTERS! I swear I am going there for lunch tomorrow. The lobby of this hotel was completely and utterly swarming with smart looking business folks all looking like they are in the Matrix. I am the dumpiest blonde in the whole joint….if only I had brought my dark suit!
Today was resting and watching DVDs to room service after a break neck week getting here. Tonight a shower and a short walk then wine in the lobby. Tomorrow, early start for some sightseeing and shopping, massage and an early bed. My flight on Friday to Tierra Del Fuego leaves at 7:30a from an airport in rural Buenos Aires.
Update on the bar just now: Saw literally 2 men who were well on their way to cheating on a spouse at a medical conference—amazing what you see when your nose is supposedly stuck in a book. Tried some amazing local wines and had a so so pizza. Have heard so much English in this place that its cool. Service folks are a little light, but being from Texas has its advantages: Spanish numbers and pleasantries. Even trying to speak terrible Spanish, with a smile, earns you props. MOM: Spain is on you sister! Get on that Rosetta Stone!
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