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!