What can I tell you about it? Well, not much. I have almost no experience on the subject. Jeff, on the other hand, knows quite a bit but he's sitting in an office at the US embassy helping to make the world a better place and is unavailable to comment.
DAY 1-2
Jeff and I boarded a plane in Washington, DC on Monday evening. We travelled 12 hours and arrived in Buenos Aires the morning of the following day. Before exiting the plane the flight attendants passed out a couple forms for each person to fill out. Name, ID info, nationality, where are you from, how long is your stay in Argentina, etc. Half of the form was given to a guard at the security check in point when you present your passport to get it stamped--the second half we're supposed to turn in when we leave the country. It was interesting to see how different the airport experience was compared to US airports. In BA it is standard to use the luggage carts for free--much like a shopping cart at a grocery store. In the US you have to pay for the convenience of a luggage cart. Well, I guess that's not exactly true--we lucked out at the DC airport. Jeff spotted a used cart that had not yet been returned and just barely snagged it in time. There was another guy at the airport who was collecting the carts to get the deposit back for returning them. I guess that's a good way to get enough change to buy a beverage at the local 7-11. When we picked up our luggage at baggage claim, we weren't sure if one of my bags made it there. Three of them came out at the same time and the fourth one took its own sweet time and came out about 10 minutes later. Oh, standing in line at the airport in BA reminds me of a time when I was younger--standing in line with the neighborhood kids from around the block waiting your turn to buy something from the ice cream truck driver.
We were met by one of Jeff's associates who came to the airport to help get us settled into the apartment they reserved for us to use during our stay. When we finally left the airport, there was a mass of cars and trucks bumper to bumper and I figured it would take a little while before the driver would be able to maneuver through the maze of traffic. I can't believe he was able to get out of that mess. In DC, people would be honking horns and exchanging little "pleasantries" back and forth. Lots of hand waving too. Not in BA surprisingly. They do not drive in lanes like they do in the states. In fact, some of the streets do not have lanes at all. For the streets that do, it's common to see an "additional lane" of traffic. For example, if there are three white lanes heading in one direction--drivers will create a fourth lane between two lanes. They weave all over the place, barely missing each other. I'm amazed I haven't seen an accident here yet. Pedestrians do not, I repeat do NOT have the right of way here. You cross the street at your own risk.
DAY 1-2
Jeff and I boarded a plane in Washington, DC on Monday evening. We travelled 12 hours and arrived in Buenos Aires the morning of the following day. Before exiting the plane the flight attendants passed out a couple forms for each person to fill out. Name, ID info, nationality, where are you from, how long is your stay in Argentina, etc. Half of the form was given to a guard at the security check in point when you present your passport to get it stamped--the second half we're supposed to turn in when we leave the country. It was interesting to see how different the airport experience was compared to US airports. In BA it is standard to use the luggage carts for free--much like a shopping cart at a grocery store. In the US you have to pay for the convenience of a luggage cart. Well, I guess that's not exactly true--we lucked out at the DC airport. Jeff spotted a used cart that had not yet been returned and just barely snagged it in time. There was another guy at the airport who was collecting the carts to get the deposit back for returning them. I guess that's a good way to get enough change to buy a beverage at the local 7-11. When we picked up our luggage at baggage claim, we weren't sure if one of my bags made it there. Three of them came out at the same time and the fourth one took its own sweet time and came out about 10 minutes later. Oh, standing in line at the airport in BA reminds me of a time when I was younger--standing in line with the neighborhood kids from around the block waiting your turn to buy something from the ice cream truck driver.
We were met by one of Jeff's associates who came to the airport to help get us settled into the apartment they reserved for us to use during our stay. When we finally left the airport, there was a mass of cars and trucks bumper to bumper and I figured it would take a little while before the driver would be able to maneuver through the maze of traffic. I can't believe he was able to get out of that mess. In DC, people would be honking horns and exchanging little "pleasantries" back and forth. Lots of hand waving too. Not in BA surprisingly. They do not drive in lanes like they do in the states. In fact, some of the streets do not have lanes at all. For the streets that do, it's common to see an "additional lane" of traffic. For example, if there are three white lanes heading in one direction--drivers will create a fourth lane between two lanes. They weave all over the place, barely missing each other. I'm amazed I haven't seen an accident here yet. Pedestrians do not, I repeat do NOT have the right of way here. You cross the street at your own risk.
We arrived at our place and can I say that it's HUGE. Jeff explains to others that we're living in one wing of the apartment which is literally the truth. The apartment building is situated in an area called Belgrano. Belgrano is a really nice neighborhood close to the grocery, shopping, entertainment, and an array of great restaurants/dining experiences. As for the rest of the week, we'll have to get you up to speed later.
