Edited by Rocky Grove, Saturday, 5 Oct 2013, 12:11
Don't worry this isn't a prediction of doom and gloom but a note to say that I am in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, which is sometimes referred to as the end of the world!
I like Argentina but don't like their airline! An hour's queue to check in, three quarters of an hour for security (on an internal flight and then three quarters of an hour to get my bag
Buenos Aires seems a beautiful city, the part I am in feels very fifties with lots of old buildings and shops to match - there's a really ancient supermarket nearby and a Lyons Corner house type coffee shop.
The main city is quite cosmopolitan with some strange twists. One of the main streets, Florida, could fit into any European capital. I enjoyed a lovely meal in a street cafe next to a very British looking post box! However when I continued down the traffic free street the centre of the street turned into a native american's street market. It was noticeably different to Rio which is very cosmopolitan with all races respresented. In BA people are of predominently European looks with just the street traders being indians - I saw no blacks at all.
Tuesday A day spent exploring Buenos Aires, following Becky's recommendation - thanks Beck, I took the tourist circular bus and stayed on it for one circuit - coffee break apart - to get an overview of the city. It took about 2 hours in total. A very varied city, modern shopping areas, skyscapers, but some also quite run down areas, unsurprisingly down by the extensive docks. Lots of statues particularly of the Perons and of earlier heroes Generals San Martin and Belgarno. I still find that name reminds me of the ship that was sunk during the Falklands war Talking of which, the BA tourist brochure has an overview map of Argentina including the Isles Malvinas with Ar next to them - wishful thinking! One thing that did surprise me was the number of references, commerations and protests there are against the time of the generals.
I like the city and found it a safe place to be - apart from the traffic! Three nights running I walked back from central BA to my hostel which is not in the best of areas, but I never felt slightly threatened.
Wednesday The worst day, weather wise, of the trip. I awoke to torrential rain and although it slackened to drissle, it stayed all day. Fortunately I had planned a day trip across the River Plate to Uraguay, so didn't plan to be out much. The Plate is around 50 miles wide opposite BA but the boat I took, which was nearly as large as a cross channel ferry only took an hour, I don't recollect having been on such a fast ship, speed boats apart.
Colonia de Sacremento, the Uraguayan town opposite BA is very different. Small enough to visit everywhere in half a day, lots of old buildings but again a mixture of poor and rich. Partly because of the rain and partly through lasiness, I hired a golf cart for the afternoon and visited some lovely old buildings, a gorgeous beach - almost deserted - but also a very run down area hidden away down a dirt road. I suspect they hoped tourists wouldn't find it but everyone was very friendly - except for a couple of dogs who kept running just in front of the cart in a blindspot! I didn't want to hit them but the cart wasn't fast enough to get away from them. The locals seemed to appeciate the entertainment
Thursday - today My opinion of Argentinian Airlines has been confirmed. I queing for about thirty minutes only to be told we can't issue boarding passes yet - go to desk 9. No one was on desk9 but there was a very long queue of passengers. Eventually they started checking in, it appears that due to a strike and earlier flight had been cancelled so they didn't know how many seats would be available on ours. Luckiliy I got one but I would say 50 or so didn't!
Uneventually three and half hour flight but we landed to be informed that none of our luggage had been loaded, they had brought that for people who arrived yesterday!! I think I can now see why the trip starts with a day and night in Ushuaia, we don't board for another 24 hours so hopefully the luggage will have arrived by then! If it doesn't I'm having a shopping spree - it appears I am insured for up to £200 with no excess if baggage is delayed more than 12 hours!
It appears there was a 24 hour pilot's strike yesterday !
This will be the last blog until my return from Antarctica on Monday 8th or possibily Tuesday 9th - not sure when I'll post. I may send a brief message or two when I'm away - no promises. You can contact me on a special address GUEST E-MAIL: ocn@quarkatsea.com This service is not equipped to accept images or attachments. Please specify the passenger’s name (Peter Grove) in the subject line to assure prompt delivery. Don't copy any of my messages and don't use HTML, just plain text - I have have to pay per Kb, but would welcome the odd bit of news.
On first site Uhuaia seems a pleasant place, from the air it reminded me of Scandinavia, lots of snow covered peaks - remember it's still mid summer - and pine buildings. I've just been outside in short sleeves and it doesn't seem cold but a strong wind - doesn't augur well for crossing the Drake passage!
Buenos Aires and the end of the World!!
Don't worry this isn't a prediction of doom and gloom but a note to say that I am in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, which is sometimes referred to as the end of the world!
I like Argentina but don't like their airline! An hour's queue to check in, three quarters of an hour for security (on an internal flight and then three quarters of an hour to get my bag
Buenos Aires seems a beautiful city, the part I am in feels very fifties with lots of old buildings and shops to match - there's a really ancient supermarket nearby and a Lyons Corner house type coffee shop.
The main city is quite cosmopolitan with some strange twists. One of the main streets, Florida, could fit into any European capital. I enjoyed a lovely meal in a street cafe next to a very British looking post box! However when I continued down the traffic free street the centre of the street turned into a native american's street market. It was noticeably different to Rio which is very cosmopolitan with all races respresented. In BA people are of predominently European looks with just the street traders being indians - I saw no blacks at all.
Tuesday
A day spent exploring Buenos Aires, following Becky's recommendation - thanks Beck, I took the tourist circular bus and stayed on it for one circuit - coffee break apart - to get an overview of the city. It took about 2 hours in total. A very varied city, modern shopping areas, skyscapers, but some also quite run down areas, unsurprisingly down by the extensive docks. Lots of statues particularly of the Perons and of earlier heroes Generals San Martin and Belgarno. I still find that name reminds me of the ship that was sunk during the Falklands war
I like the city and found it a safe place to be - apart from the traffic! Three nights running I walked back from central BA to my hostel which is not in the best of areas, but I never felt slightly threatened.
Wednesday
The worst day, weather wise, of the trip. I awoke to torrential rain and although it slackened to drissle, it stayed all day. Fortunately I had planned a day trip across the River Plate to Uraguay, so didn't plan to be out much. The Plate is around 50 miles wide opposite BA but the boat I took, which was nearly as large as a cross channel ferry only took an hour, I don't recollect having been on such a fast ship, speed boats apart.
Colonia de Sacremento, the Uraguayan town opposite BA is very different. Small enough to visit everywhere in half a day, lots of old buildings but again a mixture of poor and rich. Partly because of the rain and partly through lasiness, I hired a golf cart for the afternoon and visited some lovely old buildings, a gorgeous beach - almost deserted - but also a very run down area hidden away down a dirt road. I suspect they hoped tourists wouldn't find it but everyone was very friendly - except for a couple of dogs who kept running just in front of the cart in a blindspot! I didn't want to hit them but the cart wasn't fast enough to get away from them. The locals seemed to appeciate the entertainment
Thursday - today
My opinion of Argentinian Airlines has been confirmed. I queing for about thirty minutes only to be told we can't issue boarding passes yet - go to desk 9. No one was on desk9 but there was a very long queue of passengers. Eventually they started checking in, it appears that due to a strike and earlier flight had been cancelled so they didn't know how many seats would be available on ours. Luckiliy I got one but I would say 50 or so didn't!
Uneventually three and half hour flight but we landed to be informed that none of our luggage had been loaded, they had brought that for people who arrived yesterday!! I think I can now see why the trip starts with a day and night in Ushuaia, we don't board for another 24 hours so hopefully the luggage will have arrived by then! If it doesn't I'm having a shopping spree - it appears I am insured for up to £200 with no excess if baggage is delayed more than 12 hours!
It appears there was a 24 hour pilot's strike yesterday !
This will be the last blog until my return from Antarctica on Monday 8th or possibily Tuesday 9th - not sure when I'll post. I may send a brief message or two when I'm away - no promises. You can contact me on a special address
GUEST E-MAIL: ocn@quarkatsea.com
This service is not equipped to accept images or attachments. Please specify the passenger’s name (Peter Grove) in the subject line to assure prompt delivery. Don't copy any of my messages and don't use HTML, just plain text - I have have to pay per Kb, but would welcome the odd bit of news.
On first site Uhuaia seems a pleasant place, from the air it reminded me of Scandinavia, lots of snow covered peaks - remember it's still mid summer - and pine buildings. I've just been outside in short sleeves and it doesn't seem cold but a strong wind - doesn't augur well for crossing the Drake passage!