Argentinian Adventuring

We're baaaaaaaaack! This time, we dusted off the ol' passports and headed for the best hemisphere of all... the Southern Hemisphere. We left bright and early to head to LAX to catch our connecting flight to Lima, Peru. We left Fresno with about thirty-seven hours to spare, but that's what happens when you travel with people as anxious about missing a flight as you are.

We spent our many hours wandering around the international terminal, watching the Warriors game, and making some serious last minute purchases. As in, neck pillows and airport books. You know, the important stuff.

This day made me grateful for many things:

1. The dedication Latam Airlines workers have to their jobs. I mean, we stood waiting for an employee to answer a quick question for at least 8 minutes while he straightened the posts for how to line up, while muttering, "Uno momento," over and over. If that doesn't scream Employee of the Month, I don't know what does.

2. Latam Airlines' quota for caloric intake. They like to feed you on their flights. 10:30 p.m.? How about a beef stew? Two vegetarian plates? How about a soy burger for you and a ravioli plate for you? You don't get to choose, just eat. 5:30 a.m.? Spinach and potatoes for everyone! 10:30 a.m.? How about an omelette of just eggs? In the meantime, if you are awake and your seat mates are sleeping, a flight attendant will reward you for good behavior with a Twix.

3. Latam Airlines blankets. Some airlines give you a washcloth-sized rag as you shiver your ways across lines of latitude. Not Latam. They went for the whole yard; and for that, we are really and truly grateful.

4. Latam Airlines safety policies. SOMEONE must have tipped them off on my trick of blatantly ignoring the seatbelt demonstration. P.S. Don't bother acting like you're sleeping. They will poke you, then wait oh-so-patiently until they hear the seatbelt click. Safety first.

5. The Parent of the Year behind us who told her two small children to keep their feet away from the seats in front of them. Seriously, not one teeny tiny kick in 8 hours. Bravo, Mom.

6. The lack of traffic on the 405.

7. Just kidding about #6. Making sure you were awake.

We made it to Lima safe and sound (and well fed), and were able to cut our four-hour layover into thirty minutes by getting on an earlier flight to Buenos Aires.

I don't know about you, but on the Top 10 Things You Don't Want to Hear on a Flight, I have, "Ladies and gentlemen, we are spraying aerosol throughout the cabin. Do not panic. It is not toxic to your health...." It happened, but we survived. Everyone was so glad to not be poisoned that the entire airplane applauded upon touching ground. We had a quick ATM issue that was resolved in no time. We had booked a taxi back in like March of 2014 (one of us is really a planner), so a porter was ready and willing to take us. He managed to get us all the way from the airport doors to the taxi driver (quite a feat... we are talking AT LEAST 40 yards), after which he repeated, "A tip for the porter. Ma'am? A tip for the porter?!" Tracy and I stared blankly, not understanding in the slightest, but Shandon speaks Argentinian porter, apparently.

An hour later we were at our hotel and Diego was waiting with waters (two sparkling, one flat, please), and three converter plugs. Basically all we need... ever. Since the nation was on siesta, we had to wait until 8 pm for the restaurants to open, so we spent our time finding our local market and our local bakery and experimenting crossing major streets without crosswalks. Dinner was seafood and day one is done!