I stood on the curb outside of the airport trying to figure out the Uber map. I wanted to be sure the driver would be able to pick me up, as many airports have dedicated zones.
The map said something about meeting the driver in the parking area, but I just saw a big road in front of me. The map also seemed to show just a road, even if the label said otherwise, so finally I just committed and requested a driver. It all worked out, and 3 minutes late Gabriel was pulling up and I was on my way.
It’s election time again, my friends, and for Butterblogger that means time for me to get out of the country.
I first did this in 2016, when I spent the week of the election in Japan. In 2020, getting out of the country was difficult because of COVID, but I was driven to do so and managed to get to southern Turkey, where I spent 4 extraordinary days hiking.
I wasn’t initially certain where I would spend this week, but I wanted someplace new. I looked at the map and noted how few trips I have made to South America. I searched for airfares, and in due course found a destination.
And so the plan was hatched to go to Argentina for the next week.
I have long since cast my ballot (I voted by mail weeks ago), and am ready for a break from all of the political advertisements.
So yesterday morning I flew out in a yellow Spirit Airlines jet to New York, where I passed the day sleeping off the previous night of work.
Late in the evening I rode the AirTrain to JFK where I boarded the next leg of my journey, an overnight journey to Lima, Peru.
My layover in Lima was pleasant, although I honestly passed most of it in the lounge.
Some of the things I saw here, like the fluorescent yellow Inca Kola, reminded me of my friends who journeyed to Machu Picchu with me. And I even had a cup of coca tea, its mild green flavors sparking their own memories.
The flight to Buenos Aires surprised me, as the routing was a bit more southerly than I expected (my sense of geography is lacking) and took us over the Pacific Ocean. Somewhere along the way I looked out and saw the Atacama Desert and a volcano.
This is Cerro Miscanti, one of many volcanoes I saw outside of my window. I don’t think I realized that there were so many volcanoes in this part of the world, but thinking back to school and the Pacific Ring of Fire, it makes sense.
The rest of the flight was uneventful, with us landing at AEP (Aeroparque), the smaller, more local, airport of Buenos Aires.
My Uber trip to the hotel was successful and I got settled in and cleaned up. The streets here are shaded and dark, with leafy trees casting big shadows on some blocks, but it clearly was well into the twilight hours when I stepped out to find dinner.
I wandered the Palermo neighborhood for a bit before settling on a restaurant with plenty of seating and empanadas.
The meal was smallish and tasty, but it was the right way to start my time in Argentina.
I ate quickly and returned to my hotel. For not having done much today, I was still quite tired and ready to find my rest for the night.
Tomorrow the real action starts.
butterblogger 