February 27, 2008 - Sao Paulo, Brasil & Buenos Aires, Argentina

February 27, 2008 - Sao Paulo, Brasil
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After breakfast, I headed to an Internet cafe. I was a tad early and I had to wait for about 15-minutes before it opened. I spent an hour backing up all my memory cards and checking e-mail. The free connection at the hotel cannot be abused by using it for an hour and more. The most you can use the free connection is 15 minutes. Hence my search for an Internet cafe to copy my memory cards.

I headed to the BANESPA Edificio. It provides free entry to the viewing area at the top. One has to climb 2 storeys - from 38th to 40th floors. It provides good views of Sao Paulo from the top. I rush back to the hotel and check out. I paid cash for my 3-night stay - R$232 (US$ 140). I run to the bus station for the airport shuttle, purchase my ticket to the airport and load my bags and take a seat. The bus departs after a minute. Talk about cutting it close!

I have yet another peeve with the Brazilians (in addition to their Whistling habit) - especially those folks in customer service centres - bus stations, airports, hotels and so on. They have an extremely irritating habit of breaking of their conversations with you and talking to someone else.

The ride to the airport took 30 minutes and I used the E-Check in to check myself in. As I needed to check in my bags, I had to wait for a TAM Airlines agent. They were disorganized as usual. Someday they need to get their act together.

Nextel Walkie-talkie mode is quite common is use here even when NOT needed. Yet another area of similarity with India - ZERO Cell phone etiquette!

I buy a TIM Phone card (for my Brazilian Mobile Number) for R$25 (US$14). I purchased a box of Brazilian coffee. I had thought the price was R$5 but it turned out that the price was US$5. The moment I queried this price difference, the salesgirl at the counter, increased my Change from 0.10 Centavos to 0.60 Centavos! Brazilians need to STOP Short changing all people all the time.

Without my asking I was assigned an exit row seat. I had ample leg room. I had a decent lunch on the flight to Buenos Aires (Pasta & Red Wine) and followed it up with a decent snooze. TAM Hostesses were getting a bit old hat!

February 27, 2008 - Buenos Aires, Argentina
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We reached Buenos Aires 30 minutes late. Buenos Aires was 1-hour ahead of Sao Paulo. The Brazilian Mobile was NOT working. As I was scheduled to meet Amor (my friend from San Pedro de Atacama), I used a public Phone to leave a message on her mobile about my flight being delayed and that we ought to meet up at 9 PM rather than earlier (as we had originally planned).

I took the shuttle bus to my Hotel. The fare was A$38 (US$13 approx). The bus took 30 minutes to take us to their depot in the city centre. From here folks whose hotels were close to each other were grouped together and taxis were used to drop us off at our hotels. The taxis were owned by the bus company as well. All we did was pay them a single fare of A$38. Pretty good approach. My Hotel Marbella which is usually (in other Spanish speaking countries) pronounced Mar-Beyya was pronounced in Buenos Aires as Mar-BeSHA.

I had a decent room for the price I was paying. Amor did receive my voice mail (left on her mobile) and arrived at the hotel a little after 9 PM. We greeted each other and walked to the port area for dinner as the restaurant choices were a bit better there. After a 20-min walk, we reached the port area and settled on a nice restaurant. The weather was great. We sat outside by the pier. I had an Italian entre with a Norton Malbec 2005 for dinner. We exchanged travel notes (since our last meeting in December 2007) and future plans in South America and beyond.

I got back to the hotel at 1:45 AM. I could have never done this in Brasil (unless, I had an armoured car). It is great to walk around a place at night and see / experience the nightlife. I may meet Amor again on Thursday or Friday.