MSC Sinfonia – Day 21 – Buenos Aires
Sunday, 9 Dec 2007
Travel
The days are about as long right now this far south as my family is experiencing the other way around in Germany. At least that is my explanation for being up to see the sunrise.
to look at the industrial ships
and just see Buenos Aires as we approach from the bay.
We have arrived here.
After an absolutely insane time getting off the ship, rescuing luggage and getting on the tour bus – we headed into the center of the city on what turned out to be a Federal Holiday, what with the Presidential Inauguration being the next day. (Explaining all of the scaffolding on the Presidental Palace and other building in the center square).
I love the city, it is bright and clean with a lot of green spaces. To be cynical, I am sure that there are slums somewhere, but it just feels happier and much better cared for than the cities of Brazil.
Complete with craft markets, bright colours
and of course – Tango.
I was not thrilled to be arriving at the airport, much less to find that all the times were wrong in my itinerary. (nothing like finding out that your 1815 flight is actually scheduled for 1715. Only the fact that it was delayed enabled me to make it at all).
And we will not even discuss my plane change in San Paulo, Brazil where we were late in arriving, taxied in the aircraft to as far as you can go without heading out an exit onto a high way and then catching a bus to the terminal.
By the time I hit immigration, I had less than 5 minutes to make my connecting flight.
Just imagine me dodging all these people as I am racing through the terminal, arriving finally downstairs to an empty lounge and a bored guy standing under the still lighted Frankfurt sign. I did mention that this is not a real gate, but a shuttle bus to the plane?
Thought so, or that you would catch on fast. Turns out that there was a small van sitting there with five others. I jammed in and we were rushed to the plane.
The good thing about TAM? The flight was not full and I had two seats on which to sleep.
Audio Books
Till the battery went dead in the MP3 player. Back to Agatha Christies, salted with Catherine Coulter and Kay Hooper.
-Holly
