After breakfast we went for a walk to look for evidence of last nights flood. Surprisingly the streets showed very little sign. Jokingly Joanne hoped to find her pedometer which had fallen off when she got caught in the storm. Well, you wouldn't believe it but there it was on the side of the road about 4 blocks from the hotel. Unfortunately it had been run over and it was now only a shell of it's former self. - but a miracle none the less their was found and Joanne would now be able to use it to ask shopkeepers if they sold them. Imagine how difficult it would be to ask a non English speaking Argentine if they sold pedometers?
Picked up at 10.20am for the drive to Jorge Newbery Domestic Airport situated right on the waterfront. Aerolineas Argentina Flt 1728 with a scheduled departure of 12.50pm was delayed by 40 minutes to now depart at 1.30 pm. Was this to be the precursor to a cancelled flight? Quite a common occurrence with the Argentine National airline.
Finally the departure gate showed and we boarded a bus for the short trip to the aircraft - a B737-800 series with a seating configuration of 3-3. We had seats 5 D & 5 E - aisle and middle; with the window occupied on the nearly full flight.
In flight service was good with attentive and friendly FAs. 1 hour 45 minute flight. We were given a cardboard box with a ham and cheese roll, a caramel biscuit covered with white chocolate and a small sweet. Soft drink with seconds offered. Quite a pleasant flight.
We arrived at Puerto Iguazu, pronounced i goo a szoo. Driver picked us up which is always a nice Peregrine thing and we drove the 35 kms into the town - 30,000 people.
The St George Hotel is about 2 blocks from the main town area. Our allocated room has plumbing problems so the check in staff were most apologetic and told us see had been given an inferior room, but as a result we would have a free diner tonight in the hotel restaurant and a room upgrade upon our return from the prior tomorrow.
We set off for a walk around town. Most shops close for a few hours in the middle of the day so it was pretty much deserted and we soon realized why - the tour buses from the falls do not return until between 4 and 6pm. Many restaurants which will obviously fill up later in the evening, remembering that Argentinians eat late.
A curious observation was the number of cheese and olive stalls/shops - today's photo shows Joanne roaming through this little thoroughfare of local shops.
On our way back to the hotel the crowds were already streaming into town from the arriving tour buses.
E had a pleasant enough dinner ignore hotel considering it was free! It was a buffet style with cold meats, salad and hot meat from the grill. I had steak and salad and Joanne has salads and cold pastry like quiches with some meat from the rotisserie. We had soft drinks and I had a passion fruit desert and Joanne profiteroles. All very pleasant.
A walk of the block near the hotel at 9pm and the restaurants were humming with waiters on the side walk enticing you to come in.
Another great day in South America. Iguazu Falls tomorrow. How exciting!