Sunday, January 20, 2019 – Buenos Aires
We were up at 6:30 but fell asleep again until 9:00. We were worried that breakfast only went until 10:00, so we hurried there to find that it did go until 11:00. So we had plenty of time. The buffet was nice, and we had our fill. Then we decided to ask about our late check out request.
The clerk said that he could do it, but it would cost the full room rate for an 8PM check out. He encouraged us to store our bags, wander the city, and come back to the spa for a shower before we left. He said that he’d give us the room until 1:00 for free, so we took that, and went back to Florida Street to see if we could find any wine packing supplies. Just to be on the safe side, it would be nice to reinforce those wooden boxes.
Given that it was a Sunday, and our usual luck finding supplies, of course there were none to be found. But we got a nice view of the mall anyway.
We walked further than last night and reached the National Cathedral. Even though Mass was in session, we could slip in and see San Martin’s Tomb. It reminded us of Napoleon’s Tomb in Paris. Then we hustled back to the hotel to pack up.
We were ready to check out at 1:00, and head off to the Puerto Madero region for aimless wandering!
The sun was warm and the weather very pleasant despite a breeze and a temp of only 75. We soaked it up, knowing that it was much colder back home.
We spent several hours wandering the port, looking for a late lunch place. And enjoying the views.
We found several good lunch candidates and settled on our number one choice. We stopped at the Temple Brewery for a drink or two to stay cool and well-hydrated.
And we stopped here and there at shady benches for a rest. And more pictures.
We ended up making a large circuit around most of the port area. It took a few hours, with all the stops that we made. I just hope I put enough sunscreen on. Flying home with a sunburn would not be much fun, and there is a lot of sun today.
Lunch was at 4:00, and it was delicious. We had settled on El Mirasol del Puerto, and we got a prime table at the edge of the patio. Nice shade, but a great view. We cracked a bottle of Malbec from Bodega Ruca Malen - where we had lunch in Mendoza a few days ago.
We had roasted peppers and arugula salad for starters, and a rib eye and a filet for mains. They aren't big into side dishes here. Just a slab of meat on a plate. No distractions. Just delicious!
We had Papas Fritas a la Espanol (fried thick slices, not French-cut) for a side. We were too full for dessert but had cappuccinos to pass the time until they brought us the check.
We slowly made our way back to the Galleria Mall to look for geodes or other rock statuary, to take home as a souvenir. But it was Sunday, so we didn’t find any good stores that were open. We did grab a few more pesos from the ATM to pay for a taxi to the airport. Then we spent a few minutes relaxing in Place San Martin before reluctantly going back to the hotel for a shower and a change.
We were able to use the spa for a shower, so we cleaned up and had fresh clothes for the plane. Then we had the hotel call us a taxi and we were off. Traffic was light and the ride took barely 30 minutes, and again the cost was just what I had expected - $1200 pesos (about $30 US).
We hopped on the line to get our wine boxes wrapped up in plastic, for good measure. Good thing we got on line when we did, as the line got VERY long behind us!
There was really no line at Sky Priority, and we checked our bags and our wine, wondering how much would make it home. Then off to the scrum for boarding pass control (no Sky Priority line here), then security (pretty fast, and not too thorough), then passport control (Sky Priority line, but maybe a 15 minute wait). After all of that, we were through and in the lounge by 9:30, so it had taken almost an hour since arrival to complete the whole process. Not too bad.
The lounge was OK, food offerings were snack material but we were still stuffed from lunch. Soon it was time to board so we went to the gate, expecting additional security to comply with TSA standards. Turns out it was just a hand search of carry-on bags for matches and lighters, which took minimal time. We settled in with a glass of champagne and waited for takeoff.
The searches must have been pretty efficient because we pushed back right on time and were airborne by 11:40. On track for an early arrival back home - and zero degree weather in the forecast!
We were up at 6:30 but fell asleep again until 9:00. We were worried that breakfast only went until 10:00, so we hurried there to find that it did go until 11:00. So we had plenty of time. The buffet was nice, and we had our fill. Then we decided to ask about our late check out request.
 |
| Along Calle Florida, Buenos Aires |
 |
| Gallerias Pacifico, Buenos Aires |
Given that it was a Sunday, and our usual luck finding supplies, of course there were none to be found. But we got a nice view of the mall anyway.
 |
| San Martin's Tomb, National Cathedral, Buenos Aires |
We walked further than last night and reached the National Cathedral. Even though Mass was in session, we could slip in and see San Martin’s Tomb. It reminded us of Napoleon’s Tomb in Paris. Then we hustled back to the hotel to pack up.
 |
| Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires |
We were ready to check out at 1:00, and head off to the Puerto Madero region for aimless wandering!
The sun was warm and the weather very pleasant despite a breeze and a temp of only 75. We soaked it up, knowing that it was much colder back home.We spent several hours wandering the port, looking for a late lunch place. And enjoying the views.
 |
| Drink Break at Temple Brewery, Buenos Aires |
We found several good lunch candidates and settled on our number one choice. We stopped at the Temple Brewery for a drink or two to stay cool and well-hydrated.
And we stopped here and there at shady benches for a rest. And more pictures.
We ended up making a large circuit around most of the port area. It took a few hours, with all the stops that we made. I just hope I put enough sunscreen on. Flying home with a sunburn would not be much fun, and there is a lot of sun today.
 |
| Malbec with a view. El Mirasol del Puerto, Buenos Aires |
Lunch was at 4:00, and it was delicious. We had settled on El Mirasol del Puerto, and we got a prime table at the edge of the patio. Nice shade, but a great view. We cracked a bottle of Malbec from Bodega Ruca Malen - where we had lunch in Mendoza a few days ago.
 |
| Late Lunch at El Mirasol del Puerto, Buenos Aires |
We had roasted peppers and arugula salad for starters, and a rib eye and a filet for mains. They aren't big into side dishes here. Just a slab of meat on a plate. No distractions. Just delicious!
We had Papas Fritas a la Espanol (fried thick slices, not French-cut) for a side. We were too full for dessert but had cappuccinos to pass the time until they brought us the check.
We slowly made our way back to the Galleria Mall to look for geodes or other rock statuary, to take home as a souvenir. But it was Sunday, so we didn’t find any good stores that were open. We did grab a few more pesos from the ATM to pay for a taxi to the airport. Then we spent a few minutes relaxing in Place San Martin before reluctantly going back to the hotel for a shower and a change.
We were able to use the spa for a shower, so we cleaned up and had fresh clothes for the plane. Then we had the hotel call us a taxi and we were off. Traffic was light and the ride took barely 30 minutes, and again the cost was just what I had expected - $1200 pesos (about $30 US).
We hopped on the line to get our wine boxes wrapped up in plastic, for good measure. Good thing we got on line when we did, as the line got VERY long behind us!
There was really no line at Sky Priority, and we checked our bags and our wine, wondering how much would make it home. Then off to the scrum for boarding pass control (no Sky Priority line here), then security (pretty fast, and not too thorough), then passport control (Sky Priority line, but maybe a 15 minute wait). After all of that, we were through and in the lounge by 9:30, so it had taken almost an hour since arrival to complete the whole process. Not too bad.
The lounge was OK, food offerings were snack material but we were still stuffed from lunch. Soon it was time to board so we went to the gate, expecting additional security to comply with TSA standards. Turns out it was just a hand search of carry-on bags for matches and lighters, which took minimal time. We settled in with a glass of champagne and waited for takeoff.
The searches must have been pretty efficient because we pushed back right on time and were airborne by 11:40. On track for an early arrival back home - and zero degree weather in the forecast!
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