Leaving Mendoza: 16 November 2007

Once again, traveling in Argentina is again an adventure. We received a call from Aerolineas Argentina on Wed (a surprise in itself) saying that our flights had been delayed and now what had been a 2hr layover in BA was now a 6hr layover. Then when we woke up at 6AM the water in the building had been shut off in the building. Lovely. We're stinky.

Steve called for a cab to take us to the airport and specifically said we were 3 people going to the airport with a lot of luggage. When the ethanol-powered car arrived, the spare tank filled up half the trunk. The rather portly driver told me not to worry and proceeded to huff and puff until the front passenger seat was filled high with bags, packs and the stroller. When he got in the car, the joked that his heart was palpitating. Fortunately, I learned the word for heart attack yesterday.

Upon arrival at the airport, we checked our bags and sat down for 2 medias lunas each (fancy crescent rolls) and the some very delicious espresso. And all seemed right with the world. Side note: it is always the food that makes me miss mi suegra, un café y una media luna are a very Hoodi snack.

Security was well organized and easy. Then, at the gate, the gate agent tapped me on the shoulder and invited us to board first. Steve got out of the long line and we felt like rock stars marching to the plane.

We were waiting to take off when the attendant care and told me Paco's car seat was not allowed. "no sillita" Paco burst into tears and the entire plane heard him yell loudly in English, "but I like my green car seat." Then the flight attendants fels so bad that they gave Paco a handful of candy. All was then well.

We have since arrived in Buenos Aires and of course, the stroller was at baggage claim (not big deal, it was right there) and we had to wait a good 30 minutes. Not the end of the world for a 6 hr layover. The domestic airport is close to the city, so we could have easily hopped in a cab and gone somewhere. I even offered to Steve to have him go alone, free of our circus, but he said, "I am already tired." So we are happily sitting in the airport.

The airport is amazingly clean and an easy place to pass the time. Because they don't assign the gates until the last minute, in general people don't pass through security. Somehow it all seems very efficient (my in-laws are choking over that comment, because I am not sure an Argentine would never say anything here was efficient). Steve went to go get us WiFi Access. You can get access to the WiFi, but you have to sign up for the service by phone. You gotta love that logic! He was able to buy a couple of prepaid cards. I may run out at any minute.

In general, I have to say, if I had not know Aerolineas Argentina's problems and had never spoke to an Argentine, I would have assumed it was always as solicitous has they have been to us. Traveling with a child is certainly not easy, but the Argentine value of family makes it much easier. Paco is treated like a king. Yes, there was the delay, but they called us (and it actually took them 5 or 6 attempts) on my US cell number, and when we landed, the man at the bottom of the stairs leaving the plane, climbed up the steps and swung Paco down, giving him a little flight of his own.

I think both Steve and I really enjoyed our classes in Mendoza as well, but I think more of that in a different post.

Love, Erin