This morning my alarm went off at 3am. Holy cow... I honestly feel like I haven't had any sleep what so ever. Then again, I've only had 2hrs sleep. For anyone who doesn't really know me, than it might be a good time I point out that I actually need a minimum of 8 hrs sleep a day inn order to be bright and chirpy!! All I can say it's going to be a long day for everyone who is travelling with me today!!!
At 4am I received the first of two wake up calls that Globus organises for everyone on the trip. This is the warning that your bags need to be placed out the front of your room door, so the bell boys can pick it up and take it directly to the bus for us. Fernando, our tour dictator was vigorously running up and down the lobby flapping his arms madly checking off bags once they arrive (so much so I thought that he was about to start flying). He did a great job on following up where the missing bags were. In the meanwhile we all just kicked back and relaxed in the lobby and had a very early breakfast and coffee. You couldn't pay me enough to do that job. What I find, is when I'm on tour I just relax. You have someone who is there to do all of your thinking for you. He gives you a time, you just need to turn up. So essentially I have just packed my brain into my luggage.
Our bus driver took us out to the airport, where we collected our bags and made our way to the checkin counter. I was trying to con Rob into saying to Fernando 'do you know where my bag is, cause it's not here?', however Rob knew better, as the pain that can be inflicted by a tour director is not worth the small laugh that you will get!! Instead, we conformed. We all had our boarding passes, we just had to check our luggage in. This wasn't painful at all, but with 40 tour members turning up to checking all at once, to say that we bottle necked TAM's checkin desks would be an understatement.
Once we were all sorted, we walked towards our gate, and found the closest cafe. We needed coffee stat. Most of us already had coffee at the hotel, however that was just enough cover us until we got to the airport.... we needed topping up.
We all boarded the plane, which was a fairly straight forward short flight to São Paulo.
We then disembarked, went through security and immigration and then headed through the bling world of duty free towards our gate. Along the way I stopped off at the toilet, not that you really needed to know that.... However it is essential in my next adventure. As I was collecting my bag from the shelf, I noticed that their was somebody's book, boarding passes and passport sitting there. Knowing that I'm honest, however a lot of people aren't, I decided that my good deed for today would be to hand it in to the LAN staff at the boarding gate. I mean an American passport would have to be worth something on the black market wouldn't it??? I just wouldn't know where to find this black market!! They started calling her name over the airport paging system with no reply. Oh well, she will eventually notice that it's missing and hopefully go to the desk anyway.
It was time for coffee number three.... So I started to head towards another cafe. Along the way I ran in to Fernando. I mentioned in passing that I had found the tickets and passport and he nearly leapt up and kissed me. It was one of our tour group members who had lost their passport and ticket. Someone ran into the toilet to tell the passenger and she came running out. I let her know where I handed it in, and she turned her back on me and walked towards the gate. Not even a thank you!!! It didn't really matter, as I was off to get a coffee fix!!!! That made me feel better!!
The flight was bumpy at times, but ok. I was sitting with my good friends Jan and Kathy!! My plan was to get some shut eye on this flight. I closed my eyes, yet sleep just evaded me. I rested my head against the chair in front... Nope that didn't work either. I then notice that a movie was running on the communal TV.... So I thought that I would tune into that. Before I knew it, we were landing in Buenos Aires.
We cleared immigration and customs, and went out to meet Georgina, the tour guide from Argentina. She went a long way proving the theory that Argentinians are Spanish speaking people, who dress like Italians, who live in French houses, who think that they are British. She ticked every box!!!
As we drove from the airport to the hotel, Georgina gave us a run down on the do's and don'ts in Buenos Aires. She handed us a map and an Argentinian pin..... Not to mention put on stunning weather for us. Blue skies, sunny and temperatures in the low 20's.
We all checked in to the hotel, and then made our way to our rooms for about 45 mins to get settled in. My room was huge. I had 2 big white fluffy robes waiting on my bed, slippers and the bathroom was like something out of life styles of the rich and the famous. Pure luxury!!
After I finished walking around my room saying ooooooo, argh, and wow, I met every one in the foyer and as a group we walked up to a restaurant for an early dinner. Well early according to Argentinian standards anyway, as locals don't tend to head out to dinner until about 9pm at the earliest. There is no way I could have waited until then. I think I would have started taking huge bites out of everyone, or become really hangry.... With only 2 hrs sleep that would have been very messy..... and no one needs to see that!!!
Fernando rang the restaurant ahead of time to see if they would open up early for us. So at 6pm we walked in ready to eat anything and everything that was placed in front of us and not nailed down.
We then made the short walk back to the hotel. The architecture in Argentina is so wonderful. It has a very French feel to it.... And there are so many glorious parks in the city centre. Some housing monuments, others with trees just ready to start growing their leaves again after the winter. I'm going to enjoy exploring this city!!
Once back at the hotel I think I was actually asleep putting my pjs on. It was so nice jumping into bed!!! Sleep..... how I have missed you!!!