Tim and I set off for Santiago, Chile. First a flight across the country to Washington, Dulles. Then a short wait til we board the Buenos Aires flight.
July 8th.
We're sitting in the Red Carpet Club in Dulles Airport, Washington, in the same seats we occupied less than 24 hours ago. Why are we still here? Well we really did board a plane and set off for Buenos Aires last night, in luxurious business class, with the special service that comes with travel in that class on a newly reconfigured United plane with lie-flat seats - oh sweet sleep!
And it was indeed a wonderful night with starry skies outside. Only problem was when we woke, the map showed us heading north, not south, somewhere near the northern tip of South America. Never mind I thought, my TV screen had not been working at all and Tim's was showing us heading north so the whole system obviously needed re-booting.
Not so. A short while later the captain's voice announced a slight change in plan. Chile's Puyehue volcano was spewing a fresh cloud of ash closing down the airport at Buenos Aires. So our plane was turned about and redirected to Miami, to refuel. And then, two hours later, we were shuttled back to Washington, Dulles, IAD!
And now we have checked into tonight's flight to Buenos Aires, in Economy class, a long night ahead of us.
I would rather go home!
July 9th
Over a flight of dry Rose wines for me, an Argentinian malbec for Tim and a couple of late afternoon snacks in the wine bar at the airport, we realise we should spend the night in Washington because we can only get on a Buenos Aires - Santiago flight on Sunday night.
The United representative works magic and gets us upgraded seats for Saturday night's flight and here we are now in the Westin hotel, waiting for our flight tonight, in the comfort of fluffy white sheets with food vouchers to spend.
July 10th
We've landed in Buenos Aires! And once again we're seated in the Red Carpet Club, for the fourth consecutive day, waiting for our next flight to Santiago. At least we're in a different city/country!
Around midday today the ash cloud returned and put a stop to all flights in and out of Buenos Aires. We're on tenterhooks. Will the ash clear by 8:50pm when our flight is due to leave?
July 11th, Day 5 and we are still not in Santiago - our flight last night was cancelled. We spent the night at a delightful hotel, the Bel Air, in the Recoleta district of Buenos Aires and woke to discover that the earliest booking out of here to Santiago is Tuesday 10:15.
We walked the streets of BA today making up for the hours we've sat in airport terminals. Tiring, but blissful. Tonight we're booked into a highly recommended restaurant close by, the Fervor. And according to the airline websites, lots of flights left EZE airport today, so hold thumbs we'll get to Santiago tomorrow!
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| Tim having coffee at the Bel Air hotel this morning |
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| Dog walker outside our hotel adds some color to the street |
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