Buenos Aires Bound

Our cab arrived @ 4:30am; a record early start for us.  It was strange to slide by the strip at this hour.  Not surprising there was both a lot of foot and car traffic and Dee wondered aloud if it should really take the title of ‘The City that doesn’t sleep’ as she thought even New York might shut one eye on a Tuesday morning.  In November. 

After the usual formalities of airport travel; line up here, body search there, we crashed into our emergency seats - score! – and were fast asleep shortly after take off.  Touching down in Miami @ 1pm, we had the afternoon to explore Miami Beach.  We strolled the impressive Lincoln Ave, stopping for a customary top up of caffeine and to people watch. 

Tourist Shirt Alert!

To say that ‘anything goes’ for fashion could be both an understatement and affront to the local fashion sense.  A myriad of color combinations, and styles greeted us on each corner.  The fedora, mini skirt, boller tie, and pink dress jacket are all in vogue and not at all out of place.  However, we were disappointed to not see an Iguana on the lead…

Rolling out onto the beach the overcast sky afforded pleasant temperatures for a mid – afternoon saunter.  The water temperature was sublime and tempted us to take a dip, but we were content wander along with the waves hitting us in the legs. 

Home away from home at the beach

We took in Ocean Boulevard in the fading light of the day with its beautiful Art Deco Hotels and restaurants that pour onto the street.  It was a pleasant afternoon that could have been easily stretched into an evening so intoxicating is South Beach.  However, we had a plane to catch.

Our 11-hour flight to BA would be on a new Boeing 777 plane.  Complete with all the amenities – other than adequate legroom for Dee, let alone me – it is a remarkable aircraft.  With room for 300 people and their baggage –so much the pilot even made mention -  I was amazed at how quickly and efficiently the attendants and ground crew could get us ready for travel. 

It was clear English speakers would be in the minority from here on out and despite the preparation all I could hear was chatter;  – no different from Peppermint Patty’s teacher in the Peanuts cartoons – I’d better get used to it…

We both managed a very good sleep despite the cramped quarters and I awoke to a sliver of daylight poking through the window blind.  Excited I pulled it down to see; Saskatchewan… Those readers who have not had the pleasure of flying or driving across Canada’s (or for that matter the U.S.) grain belt it is a really beauty to behold.  The various crops create a misaligned checkerboard pattern from above spanning as far as the eye can see.  On a completely clear day the trained eye can identify the crops by color.  In Argentina this is referred to as the Pampas – The breadbasket that feeds their nation and much of South America I have read.  This includes the grassland the supports their rumored excellent beef industry which I hope to confirm shortly.