Transition

If you fly with Aerolineas Argentinas there are some things you may want to note.

1 The food is quite good. I had chicken that was amazingly salubrious.

2 If you are flying 11 hours say from NZ to BA be aware there can be long periods of nothing to do and no one to attend you. If you want entertainment take some with you. If you do not want to die of thirst take a water bottle or have access to the aisle so that when everyone else around you are sleeping you can a least rouse a flight attendant and avert pending death by dehydration!

ARIVAL

If there is only one thing you do, make that one thing to make sure you have some $$$ money available either in the form of cash or credit plus card!

Here is why…… The Banks at the airport are not 24/7. The cash machine you find may not be compatible with the card you may have. There is though provision to change any CASH you may have. If it wasn't for the fact of Cheryl giving me some money I think I may have had a long wait for the bank to open. Then I would have been writing about something a little different like what to do if you have no money! Ill leave that for some other person to write.

Taxi Ride

This was great. My first taxi saga and within moments of touchdown. Here is what happened…….. After going to the information desk to find an address of some kind of cheap accommodation. (Hostel Florida en el centro was a great recommendation.) I next proceeded to go outside to find an ATM machine and withdraw some money. As soon as I walked outside I was greeted by some eager men to take me to the city for 180 pesos, I of course tried to explain that I had no money and in the process got the price down to 150 pesos which is what the other taxis were charging and the others at least had uniforms. They kindly informed me that there was no place to get money and I could simply draw out some money in the town centre when we arrived. I could just imagine a world of possibilities for the cabbie, like drive off while my belongings are in the car, or who knows what? I didn't like the odds so I determined to get some money first. I went to the A.T.M (It didn't work with my travelex card.) I went to the money change (they didn't take cards either only cash) The two guys trying to secure my business were still there and still determined. He even rang hostel Florida to see if there was any accommodation available tying to oblige me to go with them. (Whether he did or not I cannot say for certain) Any ways these guys may have been legit but if they were they sure didn't look it and the fact they were still there and not with a new client after me trying to get some money didn't give me confidence either. When I told them My credit card wasn't one with a plus they seem to have got the point. I went back to the place available to change some money into the local currency (Another long wait in the queue) I finally had some money I could use. By this time the other fellows thankfully were gone and some other person began to acquire my business. He offered me a taxi for 130 pesos! I agreed and he took me to a waiting taxi. It would seem the taxi drivers have people vie for business while they wait. It makes sense they taxi man is never waiting long for business and the in-between guy gets a cut.

So there you have it you may have a not so official guy trying to get your business on behalf of an official driver.  The process would have been much easier if I had some money in the first place. However in the end I managed to save 20 pesos and learnt a great deal In unfolding of it all.

My driver was excellent he made some calls to confirm accommodation availability, told me were the best place for El Tango and got me safely to my destination. FANTASTICO!