Day 8

The alarm thundered loudly at 6:30 - there’s no need for that is there?

Knowing that if I didn’t get up immediately then I probably wouldn’t I did my best to jump out of bed and shower


Breakfast started at 7:30 and we intended to be the first there


Neither of us was that hungry though - a mixture of tiredness and excitement/nerves for the coming day


Charles, our usual driver, arrived 10 minutes early and we were off - passing all the familiar landmarks we had become so used to


When we finally arrived he dictated a message into his phone and it translates to - we are here family, it has been a pleasure to know you and share your experience with you


Well if that isn’t worth a good tip I don’t know what is


We walked in and found a currency exchange counter as were unable to buy Argentine Pesos in the uk so we’d brought US dollars


Unfortunately the thieving b&&&ers said they needed to convert it into Chilean pesos first then into Argentine pesos so that we incurred double the charges


Yeah yeah I’m sure you had to do that ….👀


Then Joss had a “weak at the knees” moment




We got through customs in less than 30 minutes only to find our flight had been delayed by 40 minutes


Oh well, worse things happen at sea….



The plane took off 1 hour and 20 minutes late - but not to worry, I had plenty of entertainment, namely Joss, who persistently kept accidentally activating the seat buttons so was constantly being thrown forward or laid down when she least expected - it was brilliant 


The only time she almost beat that was when she came within a hair’s breadth of ripping the cubbyhole door off when it had a push release mechanism 🤣


I had an extra piece of joy when I noticed the loos were free but a woman on the other aisle couldn’t get there as the food had started to come down but he hadn’t started on my aisle so I was able to run over and beat her


Hahahahha 


This was our meal for the flight. Obviously I skipped the trout but the rest was nice




The cabin staff then handed out little china house ornaments to apologise for being late - it’ll remind us I guess


Once we’d landed we had to walk about 15 minutes through baffling corridors where sometimes it said for transit passengers and sometimes for those staying 


We guessed right luckily and then we saw a guy in a flourescent jacket helping a lady so we followed him


He quickly negotiated his way to customs so we followed and was shouted at for not waiting - even though there was no queue and no signs to say what to do


Oh well


We finally got through that and our luggage all turned up 🎉🎉


We then went through the exit gates but couldn’t find our pick up


I text the emergency WhatsApp number and they said that she was there and then she suddenly appeared


Excellent


The drive took about an hour through a city that looked much more modern than Santiago


We passed a stadium and I asked who it belonged to and the guide casually said River Plate - we really are in Argentina


Checking in at the hotel was a breeze - they spoke English well and even gave us a list of recommended restaurants and said they’d be happy to book for us


Result


The room was lovely and this time the air conditioning was not blowing directly at me like in Chile





We’d booked Calden Del Soho grill and although there was some confusion at first as it was booked in the name of David we were in




Lucky too because people kept pouring in and when we left there was a queue outside


First of all we had various breads and dips





Then I ordered the Rib Eye steak and Joss the tenderloin


We also ordered Patagonia Beer and they must have known we were coming as there was a little table next to the table for extras



When we explained we wanted a bottle each, the waiter even put them in an iced filled ice bucket



The beer was lovely


The steaks were absolutely the best thing I have ever tasted




I’m 

I’m not a foodie and as long as it fills me up I’m happy but that was the best meat I have ever tasted - I could have cut it with a spoon


While we waxed lyrical about the taste we asked for the bill and I said I hope it’s paying the tip on the card like Chile because all the cash is back in the room


It was cash only for tips


Bugger


We told the waiter we had no cash and he said it didn’t matter, but it did, so I fast walked back to the hotel, got some cash and went back while Joss waited


Realising we’d need more cash for tips and we couldn’t keep giving 10000 peso every time so we eventually got into a corner shop and Joss got some biscuits and I got a beer - perfect for watching the second half of Argentina v Peru



After a long day, that’s all I’m fit for

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