Why Does Technology Hate Me?

I would love to know what I did to technology. What did I do that was so egregious that I deserve its cold shoulder and outright hostility.

Case in point: last night, I'm working on my website. I was uploading photos, writing narrative, organizing the pages, and so on. I went to delete a duplicate page, and, poof, like magic, the program deletes half of my site. Gone.

I consulted resident technical support (that's Philip). He could see the deleted pages still on my computer but he couldn't get them back into the program. He was encouraged by this; I was not. Seeing what you really want and not being able to get to it might be worse than not seeing it at all!

So, now I'm trying to sort out what to do next. The program I was working on was supposed to be the one I would use to start my site anew but now I might be back to the drawing board. Frustrating.

I never really hated you before, technology, but I'm certainly starting to now.

Wading Through the B.A. Photos

I managed to get all of our Buenos Aires photos numbered, renamed, backed up, uploaded, and sorted. It was quite an undertaking to wade through about 1700 (!) photos.

Now, I've begun work on my web pages and all of the writing and organizing that goes along with that. I'm determined to have it all done by month's end. Hopefully I can make my self-imposed deadline!

Soon you'll be able to read all about some great meals, our wonderful hotel, the volcano, and a crappy Delta flight. I know you can't wait!

"History Doesn't Repeat, But It Rhymes" Sounds Familiar

Overheard while waiting in line at Immigration Control at Dulles Airport, this past week.  From the overarching conversation, I think this was between a father and son.  Here goes:

Younger one:  "Why is it some people have two passports."

Older one:  "Two?  Well, it's almost impossible."

"I know some guy at school who has two."

"Can't be."

"Yeah, I saw it."

"I think you don't know what you saw."

"Well, [so-and-so] has a Canadian and an American passport."

"Maybe you don't know what you saw."

"I saw it.  His father is Canadian, so he can have that."

"Why would anyone want to be Canadian?"

Happy Father's Day!

Home

Finally made it home. We had one final misconnect this morning. (Honestly, Delta scheduling, was there any chance we would clear immigration, find our bags, clear customs, recheck our bags, go through security, and make it to our gate in less than 90 minutes?! I'll never understand why you schedule these silly connections.)

At any rate, we are home. And exhausted!

Time to Fly

Looks like flight is a go. Taking off in an hour. Atlanta, here we come!

Leaving Buenos Aires? Looks Like a Go

Our plane, which flew overnight last night from Atlanta, has made it here and is sitting at the airport. Online our flight shows on-time, and it looks like we will fly today. Thank you, Mr Volcano, for cooperating. At least a little.

Buenos Aires is sending us off with overcast skies a rain showers. It's the first rain and the worst weather we've seen since we left home. That's okay: rain and clouds seem to fit with vacation's end.

Monday, and the Big Four-Zero, In Buenos Aires

Yesterday, Monday, was a low-key affair: a little birthday shopping, a little souvenir shopping, and a fabulous dinner. We circled back around last night for dinner at the same place we had eaten on night two. The steak wasn't quite as tasty, but it was still very good. The wine Philip ordered, a Patagonian Malbec, was incredible and the best of the trip. The hotel surprised me with a birthday cake, which was a really nice touch, one of many they've managed. A nice birthday.

Of course, we had expected to return home today, so our eyes are a little on the volcano, the wind direction, and flight schedules. Hopefully we can manage to get out tomorrow.

Mother Nature Insists I Remain On Vacation

Well, just got word from Delta that our flight for tomorrow night has been canceled. The airport closed yesterday and hasn't yet reopened. We've been rebooked to go out Wednesday night. Luckily, Philip had overbooked the room by a night originally and handn't altered the reservations, so we won't be seen roaming the streets without a place to sleep. Stay tuned!

Oh, on the way in from our day out, some woman came across the lobby, addressed me by name, and wished me a "happy birthday." She was the Guest Services Manager for the hotel. What's most impressive is that we hadn't met her. She somehow knew who I was; and she knew who between the two of us I was.

I'll suffer through another day here. :-)

Stuck in Buenos Aires?

Well, the winds have shifted direction and the volcanoic ash has swept back over Buenos Aires and has closed the airport and covered the city in a haze. I hope it sorts itself out soon! Time to fly tomorrow!

Sunday in Buenos Aires

Sunday was sleep-in day for us here in B.A. We roused a little late and were out by about eleven o'clock. We stopped for a quick coffee at the train station across the park from the hotel and then got the subway to the San Telmo market, a Sunday tradition here.

We went first to the indoor market. It was okay but nothing too special. On our way to our next planned stop we stumbled across the main attraction, the outdoor market. It was much better and pretty much lived up to my expectations. Highly recommended.

From there it was lunch, a quick visit to the National History Museum (not worth the trip, honestly), and headed back to the room, wrapping up our sightseeing by sundown.

Tomorrow, Monday, is our final day here. Tme flies!

Lesson Learned in B.A.: Don't Ever, Ever, Ever, Not Ever...

...be on vacation and leave your hotel room without something that will take a picture. We did just tonight on the way to dinner. Philip ordered "Suprema Chicken Maryland," under the "Bird" section of the menu at a restaurant here in Buenos Aires.

What came? Well, the unbelievable. There was a cutlet of chicken breast with the tiniest little leg sticking out its side. Atop this was a very, very thin slice of grilled ham. Topping it off was a pile of roasted red peppers. That was all on the left side of the plate. On the right side was a silver-dollar-sized dollop of [orange-colored] mashed potatoes, with a two-inch long potato chip stuck in it. Next to that was a small dish of grits with white cheese melted in them. In between these opposing sides of the plate was ... the pièce de résistance of the whole, hot mess: a whole banana, peeled, breaded, and deep fried.

We didn't--and still don't--know what to make of it. But, it was hilarious and worth the price of admission.

But, the moral of my post is, don't leave home without something to record such moments. I wish I'd had my camera!

Saturday In Buenos Aires

We awoke Saturday morning to crystal clear skies. We readied ourselves, headed out to breakfast, then on to the sights.

I'd wanted to visit the Falklan Island War Museum. Turns out, it's a memorial, which we'd already seen. There is no museum. Oh, well.

Next, it was on to the British Clock Tower. The doors were open, so, we went in ... to find a security guard and a staff person. They were there to tell people that the tower was closed. Seems a locked door might have done the same job. But, a locked door and sign employ nobody. :-)

On to the next site, The Fine Arts Museum. Though the downstairs was inexplicably closed, the upstairs was open and featured some nice pieces from Argentinian artists from the last century.

Next, we strolled to one of the shopping streets, had lunch, and did some window shopping. After lunch we spent an hour or so in the Botanical Gardens before heading back to the room to freshen up for dinner.

Another nice day in B.A.

PS: I'd love to post photos, but how to do that on my iPad escapees me. I'm open to advice!

Buenos Aires Update

We've been non-stop on-the-go since day one. Wednesday we strolled several neighborhoods, saw the obelisk, the insanely-wide main boulevard (world's widest), and generally got the lay of the land

Thursday we saw Plaza Mayo, site of the presidential palace (Casa Rosa), the cathedral, a couple of minor museums, saw the square in front of, and the façade of, Congresso (the legislative building), toured Teatre Colón, and had a fabulous dinner.

Yesterday we toured the inside of the Congresso, and did a lengthy stroll, from Pl. Italia to the Monument to the Spanish, the German Monument, through the Pl Mitre, and to the Ricoletta Cementery. What a full day, and lots of walking.

Lots of beautiful photos and great experiences to share.

Today is Saturday, and we are about to begin our exploring anew! More to come...

Last Flight to Buenos Aires

Apparently, we were on the last Delta flight into Buenos Aires, the airport having been closed after we arrived. No flight Wednesday and last nitght's apparently left twelve hours late, sometime this morning. There's a volcano in Chile that's erupting and wrecking havoc on air travel to, from, and through half of the continent.

Let's hope the hellfire and damnation finish before Monday!

Tuesday on Delta; Wednesday in Buenos Aires

Rough beginnings; smoother endings

We spent last night on the flight from Atlanta to Buenos Aires. It was pretty excruciating and a reminder of why I avoid flying American carriers overseas. (More on Delta's disappointing showing later.) Arriving into Buenos Aires is no easy affair either: queue to pay $140 each (!) to enter the country; wait in line to clear immigration; then, the worst, waiting behind literally hundreds (!) of people to clear customs. Geeze!

But, things began to look up from there. We paid for a remis into town and were at our hotel in about an hour. We received such a spectacular welcome from the staff! We were very impressed. When the bellhop was showing us around our room, the doorbell rang. "That must be your butler." It was!

We unpacked, showered, and headed out to lunch. Thereafter it was time to explore, which we did: the shopping street, Ave 9. Julio, and a couple of squares. Now it's a little rest before dinner.

Time To Fly

Departure day is finally here and it's time to head out. Buenos Aires, here we come!

Almost Time to B.A.

Time is flying!  I can't believe it's almost time for me to fly as well!  Almost time to go to Buenos Aires!

We booked into Delta's new premium economy product.  I'm looking forward to seeing what it's all about and if it was a wise way to spend $120.  I think so, but time will tell.

Here's some more about Delta's new economy product:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM2KTn_qtgE&feature=youtu.be

Today I spent trying to pull together my rags and bags.  I think I'm pretty well sorted.

Back to work tomorrow...

The Great Communicator

Overheard this morning on Connecticut Avenue:

"Den, he gone ax me and he know I'm a be like 'no, bitch!'. Ann, den, he gone be like 'ah-huh!,' Ann I ain' 'bout to hear dat!"

Okay, right.