Buenos Aires

Ah yes. Argentina. I remember. The in-flight magazine proudly trumpets that three years ago Aerolineas Argentinas was virtually bankrupt, but thanks to being taken over by the government, the average age of the planes is now only 5 years old. They now also belong to the most prestigious group of international airlines that includes Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Kenya Airways and Vietnam Airlines.

We have a choice of inflight movies. Yes, two. Not that it mattered much. Nobody could get the sound to work. And breakfast was a bread roll with jam, no butter, and a small half-filled cup of coffee with a sachet of powdered creamer. Anyway, due to all of these government efficiencies that plane was only half full, and I had an empty seat next to me, so I was happy. We're back in a country where the whole plane breaks into applause when the plane lands safely. Never quite sure whether they are surprised or delighted, but both are better than the alternative.

Not much else to report until we arrived about 9 hours later in Buenos Aires. After going through immigration, who were reluctant to let me in as I didn't know the hotel the airline were putting me up in, then customs who steadfastly refused to collect the declaration form we all had to fill out, I then had to walk from Terminal A past the closed Terminal B to Terminal C with all my luggage to find the 'service counter'.

They eventually understood my story, and gave me a hotel voucher for the night and a taxi voucher to get there. Unfortunately the taxi booths are back in Terminal A. Yep, you guessed it, more walking. The hire car then took me to my hotel, which was no mean feat as it was in the centre of the city some 30 minutes away. No idea if I had to tip the guy, but I didn't have any local cash anyway. Did a whole charade about getting a taxi to pick me up at 6am tomorrow morning - we'll see how that pans out. Nice hotel. Wireless internet is only $2, but of course its broken.

Thank goodness for McDonalds and Starbucks, conveniently next to each other across the road from the hotel. Tea and wifi next to each other.