Travel day to Mendoza

Journal - 081114

Today is mostly a travel day.  I had a taxi scheduled to pick up at 6:30 AM.  Pedro felt that traffic would be very bad going to the airport at 7 AM.  I was up before 5:30 AM.  I have a somewhat sleepless night - by my standards.  I woke up at 1:30 AM, 3 AM, 4:15 AM and finally when my alarm started going off at 5:05 AM.  I was so nervous about oversleeping, missing my taxi and ultimately missing my flight.  The 4:15 timing was when my neighbor returned home from the clubs.  I'm sure my showering and leaving less than two hours later was not something they appreciated.

I was dressed and ready by 6:10 and looked down from the window to see that a taxi was already waiting.  I assumed it must be mine.  I started the tasks of carrying my suitcase and backpack down 4 flights of stairs.  I would take one flight at the time, one bag at a time since the stairs were so narrow and the suitcase so big and heavy.

Sure enough, it was my taxi waiting outside - can't believe he was so early.  We loaded my bags and were off to the airport...after broken Portuguese to tell him my airline.

There was virtually no traffic and the driver was able to travel at a pretty high speed most of the way.  The route he took seemed much more direct than what Marco had taken on Thursday.  Perhaps since we had started at the beaches.  

Once inside the terminal, I took about 30 seconds to get my bearings.  For only being 6:45 AM, there was a large number of people around.  My plan was to watch the check-in process at Aerolineas Argentinas to see if carry-on bags were weighed.  According to the website, the Club Economy passengers were allowed a total of 30 kg between checked and carry-on.  I am closer to 45 kg total, so was sweating the potential luggage charges.  I discovered that the check-in counter for Aerolineas Argentinas was not open yet - my flight to Buenos Aires at 10:20 AM is the first flight of the day.  No indication of when the counter would open, I just had to watch the monitors.  I decided to explore the airport area before security since I will probably be sending several hours there on Thursday.

I was hungry, so found a pastry counter that had my new favorite - cheese bread.  Of course no one spoke English, so resorted to pointing.

Finally the board indicated that my flight was available for check-in.  I proceeded downstairs, but found that folks had only began to line up - no counters actually open yet.  There was a Sky Priority lane, but no one was stationed at it and there was a rope blocking the entrance.  I went to wait in the main line with everyone else.  The Sky Priority lane was never opened, but when I got to the person evaluating passports and MANUALLY checking my name against a printed flight list, then I was directed to the Sky Priority line.  I had noticed that no one had to weigh their carry-on bag, so I was quite hopeful.

The ticket agent was nice and spoke a little English.  He asked for the receipt of paying the reciprocity tax, so I had to dig that out of my backpack.  My bag weighed 29.7 kg...so close!  He printed my boarding passes, tagged my bag and then put various stamps on my boarding pass.  He explained where the international departures were and then tried to explain something about duty free and I thought something about a VIP lounge.

The security line was very short.  Had to remove my watch, wallet and belt, but nothing from my bag and got to leave on my shoes.  Next was immigration.  I had to provide the entry card I had received when arriving...glad I didn't throw that out after they didn't keep it the first time.  Another non-event - scan of my passport, a few stamps and he kept the departure form.

The concourse area was pretty basic.  The smallest airports I've been to in the US had better options.  I continued upstairs to look thru Duty Free - most things were way over priced, only exception was hard liquor, but I didn't feel like trying to deal with that in Argentina.

I noticed signs for a VIP lounge and looked more closely at the smudged stamp on my boarding pass.  I thought it said VIP lounge and gave directions.  I followed numerous hand-made signs, through construction areas and many closed/deserted shops to find the VIP lounge.  I just handed the desk agent my boarding pass and she was ushering me inside.  Not sure if I got that access due to the Club Economy ticket I had purchased or my Delta status and club membership.  Regardless, I wasn't going to question.

The club had seen many, many better days.  Ratty carpet, torn chairs, limited tables and no desks.  However, they did have free WiFi and cheese bread!  I texted with a few folks and checked e-mail.  I only had about 25 minutes to spend in the club since I was supposed to be at the gate by 9:20.

When I returned to the gate, the monitor said that the boarding gate had changed from 9 to 10.  I was very confused - all of the queue lines and agents were at gate 9.  No one was at gate 10, there was also no desk, no queue lines, etc.  I heard boarding announcements, all in Portuguese, but no one moved, so I assumed it was a different flight.  Sure enough it was a AeroMexico flight to Mexico City a few gates down.

Finally I saw the gate agent for my flight speak in to a microphone.  Couldn't understand anything, but folks started heading for gate 10.  I followed along.  After about 5 min, he said a bunch more things, and then the wonderful words "Sky Priority".  That seems to be universal.  The line of people literally parted and I was able to go directly to the front.  Another passport and boarding pass check.  Then on wards to the desk and scan of boarding pass.

I had seat 1C.  Club Economy appeared to be rows 1 and 2, although there was no clear indication.  By the end of boarding, I had the entire first row to my self and there was only one person in the row 2.

My row 1 on the plane...

I got in trouble with two different flight attendants for having my iPad on during taxi.  The first time I was taking a picture of the Air France plane that I'll be traveling on Thurs - a 777-800.  The other time I was getting the iPad out of the case so that I could take pictures during take-off.

The pic that got me in trouble the first time...

I moved to the window seat for better sights was we took off.  After about 20 min, the captain announced we were at our cruising altitude of 34,000 ft and projected to land about 15 min early.  Flight time was estimated to be 3 hours.

Around 15 min after that announcement, the flight attendants came out with carts - they handed me an amenity kit, a boxed lunch for Club Economy and I got a glass of Coca-Cola Light.

Around 12 noon, I broken into the boxed lunch.  Turkey sandwich, a bag of peanuts, a lemon-favored cake-like item, a breath mint and wet-nap.  If this is the "special, upgraded" box for Club Economy, I really pity the folks in coach.  The turkey sandwich is perhaps the worst sandwich I have ever eaten - no exaggeration!  The meat was almost all grizzle, the bread was soggy, there was no mustard or mayo, so was completely dry (except for the soggy bread).  I ate a few morsels of turkey as well as the top portion of the bun.  The peanuts and dessert were OK and will hopefully be enough to keep me from starving. 

When we landed after about a 3 hour flight, we pulled to the side of the tarmac, opposite the gates.  There was a bus waiting...oh great.  I thought I was going to get stuck in the middle or back of the bus, so then I'll get a terrible spot in immigration.  I tried to sit near the front and wasn't too bad getting off the bus.  Luckily I was first non-Argentinian off, so the first person in line on the "foreigners" side.  A few questions which I had difficulty understanding and showing my reciprocity fee receipts and I was on my way.  

I had to claim and recheck my bag and go through security again...seems like there could ba better process.  My view while waiting for my next flight to Mendoza:

The flight to Mendoza boarded on time, but again, we were taken by bus to the plane.  The plane was much smaller, but had a true, first class cabin.  I had row one to my self again.  Once in the air, I was handed the same meal box that I had received on the previous flight.  I almost waved it off, but the flight attendant was determined in her delivery.  I saw the same "T" on the sticker, so assumed the same ill-fated Turkey sandwich awaited inside.  To my surprise, it was a proscuitto sandwich with a tasty cheese spread.  The flight was uneventful and landed a few minutes early...flight time was just under 2 hours.  The landscape was very sparse and desert-esque.  Very brown and lifeless.  Certainly not the lush green vegetation that is often associated with grape growing regions.

I was the first person off the plane and realized this was not a good scenario to be leading the entire plane thru the exit.  My Spanish is better than my Portuguese, but has been several years since I've had to really use it.  But no worries - the gate emptied directly into the baggage claim, so no chance for me getting the group lost.  Bags arrived very quickly and I had to go thru security to leave (that was a first!)  The airport was very small, only 2 gates - one for each airline that flies there.  As we were landing I realized that I had not researched transportation to the hotel, just assumed that taxis would be available.  After seeing the airport, I started to have second thoughts.  Luckily, there were taxis outside.  The driver knew absolutely zero English, so I mustarded my best Spanish.  

The housing conditions just outside the airport were deplorable and actually quite depressing.  After a few minutes, I had to stop looking out the window.  Luckily things improved as we got closer to the center of Mendoza City.  Surprisingly the taxi driver and I had minor conversations during the 20 min drive.  He would ask questions that I mostly understood and I could respond with si or no.

The cab stopped about a block from the hotel and couldn't get any closer - the road was completely closed.  I walked the last block and entered into a fantastic Sheraton!  I was greeted at the front desk with an offer of a glass of wine...yes, of course.  I didn't care how long check-in took - I was enjoying a glass of Malbec from the Mendoza region.  I had hoped for it, but thought the chances were low...nonetheless, my wish came true - I was upgraded to a suite.  Three nights on points, upgraded to a suite...best 12,000 SPG points ever.

The suite was quite large and furnished very nicely.  Every place has quirks - this one is that you have to insert the room key in a slot on the wall for any of the lights to work.

After getting settled and unpacking a little, I decided to check out the Sheraton Club on the top floor.  In a word, it was spectacular.  Ceilings were two stories high, free wine, free appetizers, 360 degree balcony looking out to the various parts of the city.  I've been out every night of the trip and thought it might nice to stay in for a quiet night, so I had a heavy portion of the free appetizers.

Around 8:30, I heard a knock at the door - it was room service with a complimentary bottle of Malbec.  Not sure from who, but wasn't going to second guess the gift.

By 9:00, I was hungry again, so decided on the hotel bar for a Cesar salad.  I stayed with Spanish for my entire order with the server.  It was the strangest Cesar salad I've had - bibb lettuce rather than romaine; Swiss cheese strips rather than parmesan; not quite a Cesar dressing; addition of bacon and chicken, neither of which were listed on the menu.  Mediocre at best, just hopefully that the lettuce doesn't end up spoiling my day tomorrow.

Ended the night with packing my messenger bag for a day full of wine tours on Tuesday!  Van picks me up at 8:30 AM.

I've received several notes about pictures on the previous days...sorry that today's were so mundane - it was a travel day without much excitement.