My Last Day in Buenos Aires . . .

Well, here I am flying the friendly skies with United, about 2 hours into my flight – 2 hours away from Argentina, 2 hours closer to home. Argentina just kicked my ass today. And, I am very very happy to be on my way home. I had a terrific sleep last night. But, then I had to drag all my bags (5 of them) down the three sets of very windy, very long stairs. It actually went much more smoothly than I anticipated. And, then I was off around town.

My big project was to get my hair done. I know that sounds a bit silly, but it was in desperate need and it’s about 20% of the cost of having it done at home. Well, that project went completely array and my request for a darker blond color led me to reddish brown hair. I was very upset as I watched the color solidify on my hair helplessly. But, after it was all done, I grew to like it. Truthfully, I have been considering going darker for a while, so it wasn’t a big deal. Plus, my hair is so damaged from all the time in the sun and on the sea this year that I think it could handle going bleach free for a while. So, surprise, I’ll be home as a new woman! I know my dad will love it because it’s closer to my natural color which no one has seen in over 4 years.

After having my hair done, I just walked around the city a bit and had a leisurely lunch. The longer I stayed, the more uncomfortable I was feeling in the city. I started thinking about all the things I didn’t see or do and how I might have forgotten things and becoming a bit moopy over memories of the time I lived here. It’s a weird feeling to know that I won’t be popping back in anytime soon after living there on and off for 7 months. At lunch, I heard a cell phone ring and I thought over all the times I had sat in cafes such as that and answered phone calls and text messages from friends about making plans for the evening. I had no use for my Argentina phone anymore, which was good because it seems to have broken when I tried to charge it. I feel much more connected to Buenos Aires than anywhere else I’ve traveled this year, because I actually had a real life there – school, work, friends, boyfriend, roommates, routines, favorite places. Everywhere else I’ve been, I’ve only been visiting.

The day flew, and before I knew it, I was getting into a taxi to go to the airport. The cab driver was very nice and chatted with me the whole way to the airport. However, when we got to the airport, he tried to charge me 69 pesos when the fare was only 47 on the meter. I had asked him before I got in how much it would cost. He told me 45 pesos more or less, which I knew to be fair. I couldn’t understand why he was trying to charge me over the meter, and I refused to pay him 50 percent more than the meter said. Nothing extraordinary had occurred on our drive and we had gotten there fairly quickly. But, he was insistent that I pay him this extra 22 pesos. So, we went in to talk to the police. We ended up just going to the information center where a woman translated for us. However, this translation didn’t help my understanding anymore than in Spanish. He was saying something about having to go back into the city a second time. Then he said that the man who got the taxi for me at the hostel (even though I could have easily gotten it myself – but they were so nice there) had told him that I would pay for the way there and the way back from the airport because he was getting off work and didn’t want to do the trip. That was absolutely ridiculous. There are tons of cabs, so I could have easily gotten another if he didn’t want to take me. It just didn’t add up. I’m not sure what he was trying to do, but I can’t help but feel like he was scamming me. At least I can’t come up with another answer. Anyways, in the end, he just walked away with the 50 pesos I had already given him. It was weird. I felt like he genuinely believed he should get this extra money, but the meter said 47 pesos and, from my past three trips to and from the airport, I knew this was the right fare.

Anyways, that all took some time and I was running a bit behind by the time I got to the United check in desk. Then I started the long process of lines to pay the airport tax, go through security, go through immigration, and finally the airline baggage check. Meanwhile, I realized that they had moved my flight up by half an hour. The lines were very long and they took ages to get through. I ended up having to throw away liquor which I had in my carry on (a bummer as it was gifts) and all the cream objects (of which I had many – notably suntan lotion, toothpaste, and some deep conditioner (unopened) that I’d spent $15 on today). Has anyone else ever heard of this law – no cream items on planes anymore. The effects of terrorism??? Well, I for one feel extremely safe now that I know no one on this plane will be attempting to shower or brush their teeth. I’m actually a bit angry as I always brush my teeth on planes and now I will have to wait until I get home tomorrow afternoon. If they say no cream objects, they really should give you toothpaste on the plane. That’s just a matter of hygiene. And through this whole thing, the people at the airport were not very friendly about it.

Well, I got on the plane just before take off. And, the atmosphere was immediately different. The flight attendants were smiling and very kind. The woman who walked behind me onto the plane was harassing me about my carry ons – saying that I might have to check one. As soon as we got on the plane she asked the stewardess if there was room (it really seemed like she didn’t want there to be). The stewardess was all sunshine and she said “of course”, we’ll find room,” and called me sweetheart. The man on one side of me sorted out my bags in the luggage compartment for me kindly without me even asking. And, the older gentleman on the other side of me was a very nice business man from Cordoba and engaged me in friendly chatter. All the announcements came on in English before Spanish, the attendants all speak in English, the cabin is nicely temperatured, each seat has individual tvs, pillows and blankets are provided, there is an empty seat next to me, and the food and drinks were very good and plentiful. Let me tell you, after the day I’d had (which was not stressful, but quite difficult), I was very happy to be on this comfortable plane with kind people speaking in English. I take this welcome improvement as a good sign that it was time for me to leave South America and head home. Indeed, I have felt this way often over the last few weeks. I am ready to go home. I can’t wait! And, by the time I post this entry, I will be there.