morphius909
Sep 8, 10, 11:12 pm
My Deepest Apologies...I started this immediately and then life got busy.
Nontheless, here is a abbreviated trip report:
Argentina was a place I never thought about. Brazil sure. Lima of course. Argentina? Before I was slated for a business trip, it probably never crossed my vocabulary.
12 days after I arrived and as I rode the taxi to the Airport to catch my flight back to Canada...I couldn’t believe the experience that I may never have had if it wasn’t due to my unlikely business trip...and how...I will always look at life differently...with more...zeal...and passion...thanks to Argentina.
My trip began in Edmonton, Alberta on April 10th. I caught the Air Canada Flight to Toronto, flying Business class. For your information, AC only has Business or Economy. For a full trip report on my food experience (Exec Class on AC) go to following:
Post # 286 in “Summary of North America Executive class meal service”
I caught the 11:50pm flight out of Toronto on to Chili and then Buenos Aires. In Chili we had a quick 1 hour stopover for grooming and letting on/off other passengers. The Chili airport was hot, muggy and not that great, but it did the job. You enter the airport, go through security and then take the escalator back up to departure gates (yeah it’s a bit funny).
Upon landing in Buenos Aires we were hearded to passport control. Having a Special Passport on hand, I got redirected to the Diplomatic Passport Booth. In/Out and away I went to luggage pickup where my luggage sat waiting.
Upon near exit, I hit the customs officers for luggage screening...bit of a joke...they were too busy talking amongst themselves to even notice travellers.
Once I exited I found myself in the main reception area where greeters awaited. I immediately went to the main bank which is immediately to the right. DO NOT go to the exchange houses, they are a ripoff. Stick with the big bank. Very good exchange rate.
The ride from the Airport to Downtown Buenos Aires took about 30 minutes.
I stayed at the Pestana Hotel. It was just okay. Very Nice Lobby, great Restaurant, Nice Bathroom but the Main Hotel Room was a bit scuzzy.
I worked in BA for 5 straight days but did find time to:
-Check out the Tango Dinner and Show at Elviejo Almacen
-stroll down Florida Street
-Sampled Great Cuisine (Beef is First Rate)
-Sampled Great Wine
-Stroll along Peurto Madero and San Telmo
Work kept me pretty busy but on Friday I was finished, so on Saturday I began my crazy BA-Igauzu-BA-Calafate-BA Quest to see the Falls and Glaciers.
I flew from BA to Igauzu on Aerolines Argentina from Jorge Newberry Airport. The flight was ontime but others have remarked that AA is notoriously late. Another note, I was completely panicking about my gate location, because none of the tv screens would show my flight gate. I finally just guessed and went through security and wandered around until I found my gate and flight...which was already boarding!! So here’s a tip, if you’re 1 hour away from boarding and you still haven’t a clue about what gate you are, ASK checkin!
The Igauzu airport is pretty small. You can arrange for a cab from the booth just outside the baggage claim area. Cost me about 85 pesos and I had a great driver who recommended the Raft trip in Igauzu (in his broken English and my broken Spanish!). Tip: You’ll have to pay the park entry fee if you’re staying and when visiting the park, so have CASH handy.
I stayed at the Sheraton in Igauzu Park. It was EXTREMELY overpriced but fairly comfortable and really for the access you get (you are right in the park) it can’t be beat. Upon arrival at the hotel (around 11am), I checked in, dumped my baggage in my room and ran downstairs, got my ticket for the boat trip and set out for the rest of the day in the park checking out the falls. You will get extremely wet in some areas and it is possible to check out all the falls in one afternoon but you gotta haul some azz to fly in, and get the park done in a day, including the Devils Throat.
The Boat trip is something really that should be experienced. You will get absolutely soaked, no matter where you sit in the boat.
The following day I caught my flight to BA and onward to Calafate. It takes about a day to get into Calafate (thanks to some notorious flight delays in BA). Calafate has an pretty small airport, and you can arrange for taxi service at the baggage claim area. There are cheaper alternatives like bus and vans but they take much longer.
I stayed at ESplendor for 2 nights which was absolutely first rate. The restaurant was fantastic btw. Calafate is a small town that is quite developed. You can pretty much walk everywhere within town,but this will really depend where you end up lodging.
I went on the Mini Trek Tour (Helio & Aventura) to the Perito Moreno Glacier. It was absolutely fantastic and a must do for anyone. You can also do the Big Ice trek which results on a longer duration of ice time on the glacier, but I think the Mini Trek is fine as well.
I think the trip down south to the Glacier changed me....made me realize life is much too short, and that I am stuck in this insufferable grind in life. The beauty and awe of Planet Earth really sunk into me. It’s hard to explain, but it’s something I look back fondly on.
I caught a flight back the next day to Buenos Aires and stayed at the Hotel Presidente. It was merely “okay”. The rooms were VERY Dated, single size beds, Non Working Air Condition and horrific or non existent WiFi. The lobby is pretty nice and the included breakfast (which is in the basement area restaurant) was pretty good.
My trip to the airport and check in was uneventful, though the checkin line was unorganized. NOTE: Because of the volume of traffic through BA airport, if you arrive too early to check in, don’t expect to find your check in counter. As my flight leaves, another carrier/flight check in pops up on the tv screens.
As a executive class passenger, I was told about the American Airlines Lounge (more about that later).
Passport Control was busy, but I avoided it as I went to the empty “diplomatic” section for passport control. Stamp Stamp and I was on my way to the “TRAP”.
The TRAP being the so called duty free shop. Yes it’s Duty Free. NO- it is NOT Cheap. Initially I thought I hit jackpot, as the prices looked great, until I figured out it was in US Dollars. I almost fell Over. Don’t get lured by the glossy displays and the sheer panic of travellers picking up last minute gifts. BROWSE all you want, but Don’t buy unless you absolutely have to!
The American Airlines Lounge was fairly small but adequate. The check in lady was friendly and made my feel pretty welcome. Note that it doesn’t open up till the afternoon. The lounge had some snacks and drinks and free WiFi (which I used with my Iphone to Skype my Wife back in Canada).
The lounge lady takes a note of your flight and departure time and regularly updates passengers on flights boarding, but I would still keep an eye on the time.
The flight back was uneventful. I slept soundly in the Pods. For a review of the executive class food service, please refer to:
Post # 286 in “Summary of North America Executive class meal service”
After nearly two weeks, I finally arrived back home on time, safe, sound, and very enlightened.
I look forward to revisiting Argentina with my family when my kids get older. It is a fantastic country, very well cultured, open, and very passionate, with food and wine that we all envy in North America.
Bravo Argentina!
General tips:
-Cash is King. Get some Immediately at the airport at the big banks
-TRY to speak Spanish or learn some before you arrive, it goes a long way with relations
-Do respect the Argentinian Lifestyle...dinners are late, wine flows freely, let go of your inhibitions and Enjoy it!
-BA never sleeps...never...
-From Up North to Deep South, Argentina has many different cultures and different traditions, respect them and they'll respect you
-Tipping is not expected but appreciated
-Do visit the Glacier and Falls, two of the most magnificent wonders of our planet
Nontheless, here is a abbreviated trip report:
Argentina was a place I never thought about. Brazil sure. Lima of course. Argentina? Before I was slated for a business trip, it probably never crossed my vocabulary.
12 days after I arrived and as I rode the taxi to the Airport to catch my flight back to Canada...I couldn’t believe the experience that I may never have had if it wasn’t due to my unlikely business trip...and how...I will always look at life differently...with more...zeal...and passion...thanks to Argentina.
My trip began in Edmonton, Alberta on April 10th. I caught the Air Canada Flight to Toronto, flying Business class. For your information, AC only has Business or Economy. For a full trip report on my food experience (Exec Class on AC) go to following:
Post # 286 in “Summary of North America Executive class meal service”
I caught the 11:50pm flight out of Toronto on to Chili and then Buenos Aires. In Chili we had a quick 1 hour stopover for grooming and letting on/off other passengers. The Chili airport was hot, muggy and not that great, but it did the job. You enter the airport, go through security and then take the escalator back up to departure gates (yeah it’s a bit funny).
Upon landing in Buenos Aires we were hearded to passport control. Having a Special Passport on hand, I got redirected to the Diplomatic Passport Booth. In/Out and away I went to luggage pickup where my luggage sat waiting.
Upon near exit, I hit the customs officers for luggage screening...bit of a joke...they were too busy talking amongst themselves to even notice travellers.
Once I exited I found myself in the main reception area where greeters awaited. I immediately went to the main bank which is immediately to the right. DO NOT go to the exchange houses, they are a ripoff. Stick with the big bank. Very good exchange rate.
The ride from the Airport to Downtown Buenos Aires took about 30 minutes.
I stayed at the Pestana Hotel. It was just okay. Very Nice Lobby, great Restaurant, Nice Bathroom but the Main Hotel Room was a bit scuzzy.
I worked in BA for 5 straight days but did find time to:
-Check out the Tango Dinner and Show at Elviejo Almacen
-stroll down Florida Street
-Sampled Great Cuisine (Beef is First Rate)
-Sampled Great Wine
-Stroll along Peurto Madero and San Telmo
Work kept me pretty busy but on Friday I was finished, so on Saturday I began my crazy BA-Igauzu-BA-Calafate-BA Quest to see the Falls and Glaciers.
I flew from BA to Igauzu on Aerolines Argentina from Jorge Newberry Airport. The flight was ontime but others have remarked that AA is notoriously late. Another note, I was completely panicking about my gate location, because none of the tv screens would show my flight gate. I finally just guessed and went through security and wandered around until I found my gate and flight...which was already boarding!! So here’s a tip, if you’re 1 hour away from boarding and you still haven’t a clue about what gate you are, ASK checkin!
The Igauzu airport is pretty small. You can arrange for a cab from the booth just outside the baggage claim area. Cost me about 85 pesos and I had a great driver who recommended the Raft trip in Igauzu (in his broken English and my broken Spanish!). Tip: You’ll have to pay the park entry fee if you’re staying and when visiting the park, so have CASH handy.
I stayed at the Sheraton in Igauzu Park. It was EXTREMELY overpriced but fairly comfortable and really for the access you get (you are right in the park) it can’t be beat. Upon arrival at the hotel (around 11am), I checked in, dumped my baggage in my room and ran downstairs, got my ticket for the boat trip and set out for the rest of the day in the park checking out the falls. You will get extremely wet in some areas and it is possible to check out all the falls in one afternoon but you gotta haul some azz to fly in, and get the park done in a day, including the Devils Throat.
The Boat trip is something really that should be experienced. You will get absolutely soaked, no matter where you sit in the boat.
The following day I caught my flight to BA and onward to Calafate. It takes about a day to get into Calafate (thanks to some notorious flight delays in BA). Calafate has an pretty small airport, and you can arrange for taxi service at the baggage claim area. There are cheaper alternatives like bus and vans but they take much longer.
I stayed at ESplendor for 2 nights which was absolutely first rate. The restaurant was fantastic btw. Calafate is a small town that is quite developed. You can pretty much walk everywhere within town,but this will really depend where you end up lodging.
I went on the Mini Trek Tour (Helio & Aventura) to the Perito Moreno Glacier. It was absolutely fantastic and a must do for anyone. You can also do the Big Ice trek which results on a longer duration of ice time on the glacier, but I think the Mini Trek is fine as well.
I think the trip down south to the Glacier changed me....made me realize life is much too short, and that I am stuck in this insufferable grind in life. The beauty and awe of Planet Earth really sunk into me. It’s hard to explain, but it’s something I look back fondly on.
I caught a flight back the next day to Buenos Aires and stayed at the Hotel Presidente. It was merely “okay”. The rooms were VERY Dated, single size beds, Non Working Air Condition and horrific or non existent WiFi. The lobby is pretty nice and the included breakfast (which is in the basement area restaurant) was pretty good.
My trip to the airport and check in was uneventful, though the checkin line was unorganized. NOTE: Because of the volume of traffic through BA airport, if you arrive too early to check in, don’t expect to find your check in counter. As my flight leaves, another carrier/flight check in pops up on the tv screens.
As a executive class passenger, I was told about the American Airlines Lounge (more about that later).
Passport Control was busy, but I avoided it as I went to the empty “diplomatic” section for passport control. Stamp Stamp and I was on my way to the “TRAP”.
The TRAP being the so called duty free shop. Yes it’s Duty Free. NO- it is NOT Cheap. Initially I thought I hit jackpot, as the prices looked great, until I figured out it was in US Dollars. I almost fell Over. Don’t get lured by the glossy displays and the sheer panic of travellers picking up last minute gifts. BROWSE all you want, but Don’t buy unless you absolutely have to!
The American Airlines Lounge was fairly small but adequate. The check in lady was friendly and made my feel pretty welcome. Note that it doesn’t open up till the afternoon. The lounge had some snacks and drinks and free WiFi (which I used with my Iphone to Skype my Wife back in Canada).
The lounge lady takes a note of your flight and departure time and regularly updates passengers on flights boarding, but I would still keep an eye on the time.
The flight back was uneventful. I slept soundly in the Pods. For a review of the executive class food service, please refer to:
Post # 286 in “Summary of North America Executive class meal service”
After nearly two weeks, I finally arrived back home on time, safe, sound, and very enlightened.
I look forward to revisiting Argentina with my family when my kids get older. It is a fantastic country, very well cultured, open, and very passionate, with food and wine that we all envy in North America.
Bravo Argentina!
General tips:
-Cash is King. Get some Immediately at the airport at the big banks
-TRY to speak Spanish or learn some before you arrive, it goes a long way with relations
-Do respect the Argentinian Lifestyle...dinners are late, wine flows freely, let go of your inhibitions and Enjoy it!
-BA never sleeps...never...
-From Up North to Deep South, Argentina has many different cultures and different traditions, respect them and they'll respect you
-Tipping is not expected but appreciated
-Do visit the Glacier and Falls, two of the most magnificent wonders of our planet