A long days journey into a few nights...
Epic transit to Buenos Aires, and undertaking that takes about four days, if one does not want to succumb to split second timing and suffer from snowed in Malahat drives and cancelled ferries.
After the usual taxi, Greyhound Bus, Pacific Coach Bus, Ferry Ride, back onto Pacific Coach Bus #1 and transfer to Pacific Coach Bus #2, and finally a Hotel Shuttle from Vancouver Airport to a near by hotel. At least I made it off the Island to Vancouver, where my flight departs.
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| Cruise Terminal at Canada Place shrouded in mist |
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| Keeping warm at the bus stop |
Canada Line Rapid Rail in Vancouver
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| Cheap and cheaper, but who would want to walk around in these triple decker pumps? |
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| Family Outing to the Pacific Centre Mall in Vancouver |
Boxing Day and almost everything in the surrounding area of the hotel is closed. By now it is pitch dark, and one walks along unlit weed covered deserted railway rails to The Boathouse, a place to eat some fish food at great expense.
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| Traces of First Nation Protest - people gather in various locations and leave their protest message behind |
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| Street Education of the brenefits of pot - it must be Vancouver! |
The 'extra' day provides an opportunity to ride the Canada Line in Vancouver. $2:50 takes one downtown, bleak and half dark today. It drizzles a little, after all it is Vancouver, where a day without rain is unheard of in winter.
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| Sidewalk cafes, sensibly placed under glass in rainy wintry Vancouver |
Still, post Boxing Day shopping frenzy is still in full swing, and Malls and Shops are open for business. Despite the story, saying, that Vancouver ranks as the third lowest in fashionable citizens (not my statistic). Women dressed in the latest style abound, and quite a few men mince about in the latest Meggins (leggins for men). Well, it may be stylish...but these clinging stove pipes sure don't do anything for manly calves. Henry VIII, Robin Hood, Juliet's Romeo....they all seem to have a better knack of carrying this style off with panache, must be the padded velvet jerkins with the slit sleeves they wore with them?
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| Native Art with a modern flair |
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| Gastown and it's famed steam driven clock |
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| Asian Influence in Gastown...a Sushi Place with a diner's theme |
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| Fusion cuisine - Zen Sushi with Vancouver Message - Bon Appetit |
Next morning at three a.m. it's off to the airport. With 2 bags, a roll on cart and a back pack I battled my way to the check in counter. Elevators are all on the blink, and there are NO luggage carts at the top of the working (!!!) escalators. Three hands would have helped.
Despite snowstorms all over the North American continent, I am lucky...so far, all my three flight segments are on schedule.
Of course one has to battle security...I am not sure, how often I have shown my passport, every time there is a door, a hallway - anything - out comes the passport. Washrooms seem to be the ONLY place were one does not have to present every imaginable piece of identification.
Get rid off luggage at drop off between check in and security - the luggage is photographed together with your boarding pass.
The crescendo is the usual USA security ordeal with disrobing, unpacking, bare footing and see through x-ray pictures - don't we love it? Then the stern faced interrogation at immigration, who scanned passport and boarding pass and up comes the portrait of my luggage - neat!
Welcome to the USA.
OK, first leg to Chicago - with four hours to kill at O'Hare. Thanks to point travel I am 'first class' hence access to the lounge - brand new one, lovely bar, good cheeses, fresh fruit. I sank into one of the over stuffed easy chairs and flirted with the tiny dog next to me - travelling inside a net-bag, and having to 'hold' it since several hours because of snow storm delays. The owner was unaware of the many 'pet relief' stations in the airport. Things are looking up for flying pets.
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| Blessed Peace in the United Club Lounge |
Then onto Newark, and another United Club Lounge for a few hours.
Finally the last leg: heavenly. After a truly sumptuous dinner, one goes to sleep: totally flat! A real fluffy pillow, and an Eiderdown to go with it. See Ya tomorrow!
After a really profound sleep, I woke up when the plane passed over the border between Paraguay and Argentina. Lush greenery down there, the River Plata winding its way toward Buenos Aires.
Welcome to Buenos Aires, with an upgraded modernized Terminal, so the happy advertising in the immigration hall says: new approach bridges, new luggage belts, new street lights, additional parking, more immigration booths, new gates and loading ramps - wow!
Well, hundreds and hundreds of arriving passengers crowded into the Hall, divided by Argentinos, Mercosur Members and Touristas - that's anyone coming from anywhere else but South America. Line ups snaked around dividing tapes for ever, barely inching forward.
Nothing to do but hang in there - for one and a half hour. Finally my turn arrived, and I was allowed to the inspection booth. First a photo, then finger prints, then the reciprocal fee receipt. That one, since yesterday, had to be purchased on line before arriving in Argentina - lucky me, I had done that. But, a few people had to go off and find a computer with a printer SOMEWHERE in the pre immigration airport, only to have to get back in line for another one and a half hour lining up.
Troubles almost over, transfer chauffeur was waiting, luggage had arrived...must be the luggage photos! No strikes or protests along the route either - the Gods are smiling down on me.
My apartment here is small, but neat and clean, and well furnished. Kitchen and bath are tiny, but adequate and everything is working. Home for the duration....
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| Almost there....the grand Rio Plata! |
