Arriving in Buenos Aires

OMG that was the worst journey EVER. And the nightmare continued after I got off the bus and got to the hostel! I didn't have enough clothes and there was no blanket and I was FREEEEEZING the whole journey!! Hardly slept a wink! The very 1st few moments were negative. I should have known then really. The guy who puts your luggage in the side of the bus (I've started doing that now. Just more room) did so, then asked me for money. Money? Why I said. I've bought a ticket! No! I'm not sure whether he was trying the sympathy/begging approach cos he only had one arm. But still, no! He waved his one arm in a "well get lost then you stinking tourist" kind of fashion and stormed off round the back of the bus! How rude! I then couldn't find the word for "seat" on my ticket so had no idea where to sit until a nice young man came to my rescue. I took my seat (cama - almost fully reclined but not quite) and spent the next 19 hours half sleeping half shivering half reading and half looking out the window.

The journey ended and I immediately found an internet cafe and a map. My usual when getting to a new place. I located my hostel on the map and took down the directions supplied by the hostel. "You can take the Subway(C) from Retiro Station until Av. Mayo. There, you take the Subway(A), direction SAN PEDRITO, and get off in Saenz Pena station. You are one block from the Hostel!" Great. Sounds easy enough. I ask where the Metro is. I say metro cos that's what I heard in Santiago referring to the subway and it all worked out just fine! That way I'm told. Over there and turn right I'm then told. There someone else said. I see a station but it's not a subway, it's what looks like a normal train station. Must be it I thought. I showed the guy my paper with the directions on it. He said Saenz Pena Si. I bought a ticket and got on the train. There was a subway looking sign showing all the stations and Saenz Pena was on it. Great I thought. I don't have to change, I'll get right there. I had even noted there would be a park as soon as I got off, and the exact directions from there.

Wrong! I got off, looked for the park and it was no where to be seen! I asked the guys who were looking at me in amusement. After LOTS of charade playing, I discovered that I was in fact at Saenz Pena TRAIN station and that Saenz Pena SUBWAY station was a 2 hour walk in that direction! How is that even POSSIBLE!!!!! Another nice man walked me to a bus stop just 2 mins away, told me the bus number and left me. The bus arrived, I got on and asked how much. he waved his hands around and the guy behind me showed me his bus card. No. Cash I said. How much? He still wasn't going to tell me so the guy behind said 3 pesos, which I rumaged around in my purse for (this is about 10p). I had notes but I was told no, coins. I think the driver just didn't deal with any cash and I would have had to put in some wee slot somewhere. Anyway, I had no coins and was holding everyone up so a wee old man already sitting with his wife said "here allow me" (I have no idea if he said that or not but it seemed that way) and beeped his card another time just for me. I expressed my sincere gratitude before ensuring the driver knew to tell me when I needed to get off.

50 minutes later (I KNOW), I was in the city center and spotted the stoopid subway SAENZ PENA!!! I got off, found the hostel and collapsed in a big sweaty heap!