We leave Sat 18:30 and arrive Sat 19:55 - an hour and a half flight ! Can't complain. Oops - forgot the time difference. 16 hours thereabouts actually. Get to the airport an hour and half beforehand (hate airports and queues). And off we go.
The Flight:
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| Who said planes go in straight lines? |
After 13-odd hours of all of the above activities, we got to South America and the Andes. Some pretty spectacular views out the windows and off towards across the Argeninian plains and BA.
16-odd hours direct flight with Aerolineas in economy? No hay quejas (no complaints).
Buenos Aires Airport:
Given the long flight and late day arrival somewhere we'd never been before, we arranged our first night's room and a lift from the airport. No problems at the airport - $100 visa charge for Australians (only because the Aus. gov't charges Argentinians the same) at the airport by Visa card, customs clearance normal, baggage pickup normal and out to find the taxi man with the ubiquitous black suit, hat and dark sunglasses (even though it's nighttime) holding up a sign reading "David and Anton". Found him (along with a few others offering discount prices to the city under the "Do Not Accept Transport From Unauthorised Operators" signs). All's ready to go, however we've got a 30min? 45min? 1hour? wait for reasons that Anton's school Spanish hadn't covered yet. Time to find the hole-in-the-wall and get out some pesos.
With a little prior knowledge of where to find it's hidden location (outside, left and down a bit of the main exit), there's a few machines and a few frustrated tourists attempting to withdraw a few hundred dollars in Pesos.
"You have a go". Our turn. Try 2500 pesos - no go, 2000, no go - 1500 - easy as ! Nothing like reading travel blogs beforehand. Passed on the findings to the growingly frustrated queue around us and back to find our lift.
Buenos Aires:
Got dropped off at our hotel after a 30 minute ride at about 22:00. Hotel Bonito in Chile,Montserrat. http://www.bonitobuenosaires.com/en_montserrat_index.html Nice little hotel with an old lift for those who don't like stair exercise after a long flight to the 3rd floor. All's well. Interesting room. Views over BA, a few bands in some sort of political meet down the street kept the life going well through the night. You definitely know you're in the middle of a BIG city. But you don't go to B.A. for a quiet time anyway.
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| Contemporary Lift |
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| BA skyline from the room |
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| ....& located close to transport (there's a bike lane there too if you're brave enough) |
