Buenos Aires II, Night 5

I wrote this on the plane after leaving Buenos Aires:

I'm trying to remember where I left off. I believe it was Thursday morning. I checked out of the hotel at around 8:50 am in the area just outside of where we always meet for breakfast. I planned to run inside real quickly to get a few muffins for the road, but while I was waiting for a to-go tin I saw the rest of my colleagues there eating, so I joined them. After wolfing down a few muffins, I was all set to leave, but the dweeb had to run back to his room. Because of this, we didn't leave until around 9:30 - past the time we were supposed to. You'll note who's fault this is, and that he was the one that was pushing for a 8:30 departure. Dork.

We're about 10 minutes into our ride driving adjacent to the Rio de la Plata when we get told to pull over the Argentine Naval police. THAT was fun! I had all my bags as well as my passport, so I wasn't all that worried. They had the party van pull over tot the side, and the diver gave him his carefully organized papers. An officer came on the bus and walked up and down the aisle. It was relatively uneventful, but kind of a cool story to tell.

We got to the new building and I began working. Working through the day actually. For lunch, we had empanadas. Very yummy, though we had takeout. I would have rather left the building for a little bit to take a break, but no worries. It was just before this time that I received an email from my boss. As you saw in earlier posts, I wound up staying. At this time, my boss is scrambling to find coverage for me, and I'm dealing with our Travel department to see if this is do-able. Turns out the flight would be a LOT more, and our hotel was sold out. Fantastic!

After getting approval from the proper executives, they changed my flight and I was booked in the Park Towers, which is the luxury hotel adjacent to the Sheraton. After we left the building for the day (which didn't happen until around 8 I think) we went back into the city and I checked in. After plopping my bags in the room, we met out front to head out to dinner.

We went to La Parolaccia, the Italian place, again. If you'll recall, this was the scene of the great Gnocchi-feast of January. I decided not to repeat that. Best line of the car-ride there? One of my Argentine Colleagues drove us, and in his VERY broken English he mentioned that he has twins…10 months old. The dweeb actually asked this: How old is the older one? Our colleague laughed it off…and he asked AGAIN! I swear, you all should really meet this guy. You'll laugh and cry at the same time.

We get there and one of our Buenos Aires friends from the new building joins us for the evening. That was cool. He's a really cool dude, and his English has gotten much better since the last time I was down there.

I ordered the Fettucini Verdi con Quatto Formagi. It was really good. I have a picture of it on my phone, I think. Very filling, but not as much as the gnocchi! We had some white wine along with it. For dessert I had tiramisu. I had to. I was going to get this other dessert, but the waiter said it would take 10 minutes to make. I decided that was enough reason to go with the old standby. I was not disappointed, but again, I really didn't really have room for dessert anyway. I was quite full when we left the table.

After that, we went back to the hotel. I went to my fancy new room. It was huge! I think the bathroom was bigger than my room in the other hotel. Separate little rooms in the bathroom for the toilet and the shower, and a separate tub. It also had a speaker in there hooked to the TV. I had some sprite (which I think was bad) and went to bed.

I'll have to write more tomorrow as the light are out on the plane and I'm a little tired.

Hasta luego!!

A long few days

Sorry for the lack of updates. Yesterday was a long day and I wasn't feeling well at all. It was either sleep, as short bug, or something I drank, but I feel much better now. I have some more training to do, and I fly out this evening, but rest assured, more updates are coming. I plan to write them while waiting for the plane, or while on the plane, and get them posted ASAP.

Thanks for reading them! I hope you enjoy the tales. I'll write more when I can.

Buenos Aires II, Night 4

Last night we didn't leave work until very late. It was almost 9pm (BA Time) when we finally got out of here. The Dweeb's boss had just flown in and he was taking us all out to dinner (the Boss, not the Dweeb). We went to an awesome place called Cardon Nuestra Cocina in this suburb where our new building is. Was a cool looking, giant brick building. Very nice ambiance!

We had a very big table for 12. The tables were wooden with some sort of leather table top. Interesting. We ordered some wine, first was a Gran Lurton, Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza, 2004). That was very tasty. We had an impromptu status meeting with the Boss (not my boss, the Dweeb's Boss) and then started having some entrée's. A piece of sausage, some toasted bread…all standard. They served these awesome home made rolls - probably the best bread I've had down here.

The big thing for the night, I tried Sweet Bread. I'm not a hundred percent sure what it is…but I know that I don't want to know. If you feel the need, perhaps google it? And it wasn't what it sounds like. It was fried I think - but it was okay. I just tried not to think of what it could be that I was eating!

The discussion of progress continued and we ordered dinner. I went with the Ojo de bife de 380 grs (rib eye), con tartar de veruras y hojas de runcula. I'm not sure what the rest of that means either. It was basically leafy vegetables…maybe something like spinach. I went with the Rib eye since I only really have had Lomo since I've been here. It was good - but I think I got it cooked to long. I said medium - but it was more like medium-well. I wish it was a little juicier. But the wine made up for that! The second bottle was a Luigi Bosco - the same kind we had the first big night of this second trip.

During the meal, we went out onto the back terrace to check out the lunar eclipse. Well, I went out to check out the cute waitress, but the eclipse was cool too. I also saw the Southern Cross, which is as impressive as it sounds. After that, we headed back in and ordered dessert. I had the Flan con dulce de leche since that was the only thing I understood on the menu. It was not translated into English, and we had a bunch of people with us that I had never met before, and I was playing it cool. The Dweeb was constantly checking his Spanish/English phrase book and looking like…well…a dweeb. It really is a very appropriate name. I knew what I was in for, so I just acted like I've been there before…which is always a great rule.

Some discussion was had earlier in the evening about when to start work in the morning. Since it was to be my last day, the though was to start early so they'd have me for as long as possible. We had planned to have a car waiting at 8:30. Check that - the DWEEB suggested the car pick us up at 8:30. I knew that I still had to pack, check out, and try to grab a muffin before then, and after airing my initial protest, I let it go. I won't be a squeaky wheel.

I must say, after dessert, it was absolutely stuffed. It was after midnight, and I saw the dweeb back outside taking pictures of the eclipse (yes, I know…it looks like a little dot. Didn't make sense to me either). I mentioned "there's no way we're all going to be ready by 8:30" He said "oh yes we are - I already arranged the car service". I replied "You do realize that it's after midnight and we're still not done eating. We still have to finish and get back to Buenos Aires. There is no way we'll be back by 1:30. There is no way we can do 8:30" His reply "Yes we are, I already arranged the car service." Sigh.

After that meeting of the minds, I went back inside and sat at the table where I heard Dweebs Boss basically say "there is no way we can do it that early, let's say 10am to start." Ha! Great minds DO think alike! The Dweeb walks back in and is informed by his Boss that we'll be starting at 10 (which is a 9:15 car). His response "I already called the car service." Boss: "Call them back". The Dweeb's Boss instantly became one of my favorite people.

In the party van back to the hotel, the Dweeb's Boss told us tales from the road, and was generally an interesting person. At one point, the Dweeb interrupted (after a comment by the Boss that there were many people along the edge of the Rio de la Plata for 1am) saying that "the Argentineans keep an interesting schedule. When I go for my walk tonight I'll see families out in the park hanging out." Boss (deadpanned): "Great. Give us a full report tomorrow." Love this guy! Another colleague surprised me by catching my Pink Panther reference about a Minkey (his reply…"did you say "Minkey"), so we had a laugh-filled ride back to the hotel.

We got back around 1:30. After packing as fast as possible, I was in bed around 2am.

On the next Blog Update - Nick check's out and has a bite to eat in the Club Room - and the Dweeb was late and almost missed it (Irony - table for 1). And, the party van was pulled over by the Argentine Navel Policia

Bravo American

I spent much of a previous post bashing American Airlines due to their practice of and handling of the over-sold flight that I took down here to sunny Buenos Aires.

A few hours ago I recieved an email from American applogizing for the delayed service. They said that they wanted to make it up to me by giving me 5,000 miles credit as a way of saying they were sorry.

While I won't get back the afternoon I could have spent exploring the ciudad, I am impressed that they offered this to me without my having to write a complaint email. While American still won't be tops on my list of carriers to fly, they are not on the bottom.

Then again, they never were. United has set up shop down there.

Why go home?

Welp, I was supposed to be flying home tonight, but due to circumstances beyond my control (work) I will be here a few more days, leaving Saturday evening. Stay tuned for a post about last night's dinner - it was a big one! And look forward to more tales of great food and greater wine.

Now if I could just find someone to feed my fish...

Buenos Aires II, Day 4

Today I woke up and wanted to go back to sleep. That's usually the case though, so I got up and burned my retinas when I opened the blinds. Stupid me. Melrose was on the TV again, and I met my colleagues for breakfast again at 8:30. You might as well scroll to yesterday's breakfast, because it was basically the same thing.

The van took us back to the new building where I hit the ground running. Made a ton of progress again. So glad. Lunch was later - and I was starving. We went back to the Lion Café that we went to yesterday as there are not many restaurants in this suburb. I had a regular steak this time and it was okay - not the best that I've had, but still better than most. Papas Fritas, of course! Y una Coca Light!! And then I capped off lunch with an espresso. I may have to look into purchasing one of these machines and just dealing with the ridicule when it comes. It's so good!

Lunch conversation was fun as our Argentine hosts were asking a little of America - weather and such, as well as our elections. We explained our system a little - then we all had a nice belly laugh.

After that we came back to the building and I've been working ever since. It's about 8:30 now (5:30 ET) and I'm tired and hungry. Not sure what dinner will bring, but I bet it will be a new place!

One day left.

Buenos Aires II, Night 3

Sorry for the late entry - it's been a busy morning.

Last night after work, we got back late to the hotel. We returned around 9ish. It was a long day, but I got a lot accomplished. Our host was not coming out with us, so we were on our own. I knew of a couple of places, as did the dweeb. He seemed a little insistent on going to a place called Dora. Some dude on some airplane recommended it to him at some point, and Frommer's had it rated well, albeit expensive. Here's the problem. Dora is a seafood restaurant. Cuz when you go to a country that is world renowned for it's beef, naturally you want to go out for seafood. Dweeb. I had suggested the joint I went to last time I was here that had really good beef…but I didn't push it, just threw it out there.

He seemed a little insistent, so I backed off. I was fine with going to Dora, but one of the members in our party doesn't do seafood. He graciously backed out, though I felt bad about it. But it wasn't my fight to fight - and I wasn't paying the bill, so I just went with the breeze. I also figured that I hadn't been there - which is always a good reason to try a new restaurant - no matter what the cuisine.

The five of us get there and sit down. We had a very pleasant old waiter, who did his best with our language gap. We ordered a cold calamari dish, which was interesting. I'm not the most adventurous eater, especially with seafood, but I threw caution to the wind. It was okay - though slimy and tough. I don't think I'd go for it again, but I lived. Then we had another appetizer of crab meat wrapped in a what I think was a crepe. That was really good. I wish I had just stuck with that!

My main dish was Bife de paz espada: Swordfish. I….was not impressed. I have only had swordfish one other time in my life, and it was fantastic. Perhaps I didn't like the way it was prepared. Perhaps it didn't juxtapose well to the awesome crab dish. Perhaps I was too focused on the dweeb across the table that strong-armed us into going to a seafood place in a beef city. Don't get me wrong…it was okay, but I've had better…and I've only had it once before.

The wine for the evening was a Lagarde Viognier, 2006 out of Mendoza, Argentina. That was good. And strong! I was definitely feeling it last night. We capped it off with a lemon liquor that I know I shouldn't have had, but it did finish of the meal well. The conversation was good too - for the most part. Most of us talking about traveling around and vacation plans. Good stuff.

We returned to the hotel, and the night pretty much ended there. I went back to the hotel and just about passed out. It was a long day, and I was a little tipsy. I figured it was a good time to call it a night.

Until next time...

Buenos Aires II, Day 3

This morning I woke up to my alarm at 8am and hopped in the shower. We had a car coming to pick us up to bring us to the outskirts of Buenos Aires to the new building, and I wanted to get some food in my belly! After finding Melrose Place dubbed in Spanish on the TV (yes!!!) I got ready and headed down to the breakfast in the club room and met some of my colleagues.
I had a few rolls with some dulce de leche, as well as a muffin filled with dulce de leche (do you see a theme??). It was a nice, simple breakfast. After that, we headed down to the lobby to get in our car.

The car can only be described as a party van! 4 rows of seats, it was really like a mini-bus. We rode to the suburbs in style! One of my colleagues is a little dweeby and kept running his mouth trying to prove how traveled he is. He's been doing that since last night. Having nailed exactly what he's doing, it has gone from annoying to absolutely amusing. I keep prodding him to go on. What he doesn't realize is that I read Frommer's two. He's not well traveled. He just read Frommer's. Dork. (I know that this whole situation makes me the bigger dweeb, but please keep that to yourself)

We got to the new building and the others went on the 25 cent tour. I logged on and started to get some work done. After our meeting, I kept working. I actually got a lot accomplished during the morning, so I am pleased with that.

For lunch, we went to the Lion Café that we went to last time. It really is the only restaurant around here…for now. I had something similar to what I had last time…what we would call Chicken-fried steak, but I didn't have it with the cheese on top this time. I watched others (and followed suit) squeeze the juice of a lime onto the steak. That was a very good idea! It added an interesting little zing to it. Perhaps I'll try that again sometime. Some papas fritas really rounded out the meal. Dessert was another espresso. I hope I don't get addicted. So tasty.

The afternoon found me continuing to run around and get things done. As was the case earlier, I got much accomplished. We are now winding down (it's after 8pm here) and will be going back to Buenos Aires shortly. Not sure what dinner will bring, but that's the story for another entry.

Hasta luego!

Buenos Aires II, Night 2

Hola.

Things are moving down here in Argentina, and it's great!

Last night after work I headed back to the hotel to meet up with the rest of the Bristol group that came down. After dropping my bag off in the room we headed out to dinner.

We went to a place called Happenings (I know - sounds like a singles bar, right?). I didn't see it in Frommer's, but it was pretty good. We ordered the traditional bar-be-que again with all the different samples. One sausage this time, which was tasty, and another helping of Blood Sausage. I liked it at the other place better. This one had a different, softer consistency - kind of mealy. But it was fun watching the rookies' reactions. I had a helping of Bife de Lomo, because I love it! It did not disappoint. I tried a different type of potato - I think it was like a Spanish potato that was sliced thing (like chips) and then covered with herbs and butter, then baked. VERY tasty. Much lighter than papas fritas. The wine was Luigi Bosca reserva, Malbec 2005. Very tasty as well.

Afterwards I tried espresso for the first time down here. It was good, but not the best thing to be drinking at 11:15 at night. That was a dumb idea. The rest of the Bristol crew looked like they could have fallen asleep at any moment, so we didn't linger too long. Our host brought us back to the hotel and everyone basically went to sleep.

I tried to go to sleep, but stupid me just HAD to try the espresso. At 11:15 at night. Dumb. I watched something on the Discovery Channel about a couple of Americans going to Africa and participating in fights with other tribes (like wrestling matching). I'm not sure exactly what they were doing - I started halfway through. The one benefit of the late night espresso was some very fun dreams. But, there's nothing more boring than listening to someone else's dreams, so I'll keep that to myself.

I'll write more later.

¡Buenos Días!

A good night's sleep is the perfect cure for all that ails you. After a nice hot shower and shave this morning, it was down to the complimentary club room to grab a quick bite. Muffins with dulce de leche filling are the greatest thing in the world! A few of thoses, some bits of bread, and a Coca Light is a pretty good way to start of the morning.

I took a nice stroll through the park on the way into the office. It's hotter than it was last time - more humid. I hope this is not the trend.

Well, it's off to work. I am at our old building now, but I'm just about to head out to the suburbs to the new building. I'm curious to see how much developed.

I have a bunch of colleagues coming in tonight - I'm looking forward to seeing how my host here tries to impress them as he impressed me last month. Stay tuned for more updates!

Well That Sucked!

So much for having a nice easy return to Buenos Aires. I got a voicemail from American Airlines as soon as I got into the car on the way to the airport informing me that my flight was delayed. I appreciated the phone call, but it did me no good at that point. The bad part was that my 10:10 flight was not due to leave until 3am. ¡Ay Dios Mio! ¡No bueno!

I get there and check in, because I have nothing else to really do, and just kind of wander around. At this point, I still don't have a seat assignment as I booked the Saturday flight on Tuesday of the same week. I paid a lot of money for this last minute booking. Of course when I say 'I', I mean 'work'. But keep this in mind.

I wonder into the little bar next to the gate because they had the Islanders game on. I figured if I'm gonna be stuck I may as well watch some hockey...if you can call what the Islanders play 'hockey'. I wind up hanging out there until it closed because 1, I had no where else to go and 2, Kim rocks! (shout out Kimmy!)

When the gate agents first show up, I run up to get my seat assignment. Of course, it's a middle seat. Not only is my flight 5 hours late, but I have a middle seat. Yuck! I ask the gate agent if there is anything she can do. She said to stop by around 2am when the flight check-in closes, and if someone doesn't check in she could switch my assignment. Kim and I started praying.

2am rolls around and I get called up to the desk with a new seat assignment! She got me any aisle seat - I was happy and very grateful.

We start boarding a few minutes after 2, and I start thinking we may get out a little bit early. Badass! No...I was wrong. So very, very wrong.

Thanks to my helpful new friend Kim, I learned that there was a music group of about 60 kids on the flight. This would explain why the flight was sold out. As I get on the plane (I'm one of the last...cuz honestly, why rush to get on the plane just to sit down and have someone's ass in your face as they try to find overhead room) and I see a handful of these music people at the counter. I could tell because they were all wearing matching t-shirts. Yeah. I held my tongue...barely.

At about 3am, an announcement is made on the plane: the flight is oversold. By 9 passengers. They are asking for volunteers to be bumped.

Let that sink in for a moment. We sat around the airport for 5 hours...and American did not realize that they oversold the flight? Even if they found out by 2am when check-in closed they could have asked before we boarded the plane, right? But when you think about it a little more (as I did amidst an 11-hour flight) it gets better. I was assigned a middle seat, but was given an aisle seat, which means whoever originally had that aisle seat did not check in. That means that the plane was oversold by MORE than 9 people. Further, I paid a TON of money for my seat on Tuesday...which means that I am one of the people that bought a ticket on a sold out flight. Even with the vouchers that American was offering to the people that volunteered to be bumped, there is no way that it cost more than my ticket. American just made money by doing that.

That's all well and good, but here's the part that really ticket me off for that 11-hour flight. By doing all of this stuff, and waiting until the entire plane was boarded to figure out that there just weren't enough seats, they had to then take the bags of the passengers that bumped off of the plane. We didn't leave the gate until 3:50am. After being delayed 5 hours, we were delayed again for almost another hour so American could make a buck. That was unacceptable. I understand delays for equipment issues and weather...I worked for the airlines once-upon-a-time...but this is just plain wrong.

We finally land (the obnoxious, similarly-garbed music group actually CLAPPED for the landing...ugh) and I get off the plane. Thanks to my previous trip, I knew that they weren't too stringent on the "Tourists vs Argentines" separate lines for customs, so I was able to blow by the gaggle of musicians by going on the Residents line. That was nice.

The ride to the hotel was uneventful. I checked in and showered. I'm on the Executive floor of the Sheraton. I'm not sure what that means, but I have a view of the Rio de la Plata this time, which is cool.

I went out after my shower to grab a bite - but the 2 restaurants that I wanted to revisit were both closed (Sunday). I walked around and got some Sprite for the room, then headed back to the good ole Lobby bar for the Turkey Club sandwich. It did not disappoint.

I'm going to bed now. Hopefully my next entry will be more fun and less bitchy.

Stay Tuned!!!

Like General MacArthur, I am making my triumphant return! But not to the Philippians - I'm returning to Buenos Aires. And I never really vowed that I'd return. Actually...this is nothing like General MacArthur. Scratch that part.

I leave this evening after work for another looooong flight to South America. I don't have a seat assignment yet, so let's all pray that I don't get stuck in a middle seat. That would be bad for me as well as the two people adjacent to me.

Keep an eye out here for updates. I will try to update each morning, but I have to see how busy I'll be before I make any promises.

See you soon!