Of course, as always there would be
some bumpy parts when you are on the roads. Things turned south
pretty rapidly when I landed Bariloche. I made the flight, however,
my backpack did not. Aww... I was waiting and waiting at baggage
claim until the belt stopped, I asked the security guy, no mas? (almost crying) Por
que no~~?! So he told me to go talk to the airline people, they found
that the bag did not make the flight but would be coming in a later
flight tonight. They are supposed to deliver the bag to me at where I
am staying. Often times they would do it the next day. So, poor me,
have no clean clothes to change tonight, no shower, and can not brush
my teeth. All I have are my computer, camera, some documents, snacks,
the expensive stuff. Geez!
Bariloche airport is SO small and
quiet. After I dealt with the airline people, everyone had already
left. The airport was kind of dead, I found a customer service lady
hidden behind some door, I asked her about the shuttle bus to town
(which would be an hour and a half later!) and she helped me to call
Ana, who will be my landlord for the next days. She was very kind,
going to meet me at the apartment around 7pm after she picked up her
daughter. So, I started waiting for the shuttle bus, there wasn’t
even a taxi around, it was that quiet. A parking lot with only me, a
backpack guy and the winds, kind of like an old western movie. It was
so bloody windy, from the other side of the mountains, it seemed
there is a rain storm coming.
I also talked to Ernesto on the phone
at the airport, he didn’t give me good news, he said the winds is
at the limit level that we may not be able to do the paragliding
tomorrow. He said 4/18 definitely do not look good, tomorrow morning
may have a possibility but I should call him at 9am to figure it out
then. The other possibility I have is 4/20, the day I am going to
Buenos Aires, that morning I may be able to squeeze this in, if the
weather will allow and if he will be available. I have not talked to
him about 4/20. But we will see. I mean I can understand, that wind
at the airport was kind of freaky.
The shuttle bus came finally at 6:20pm,
it was really more like a minivan with 16 seats, I got to town
safely. Town is 9 miles away from the airport. Bariloche felt really
different than Ushuaia, it is more modern and more residential, it
can easily be any residential area in HK (like North Point or even
Aberdeen), I mean the buildings are much shorter here of course, but
the kid stationary shop, the fruit shop, pharmacy, the supermarket,
they all have HK local feel to it, for whatever reasons. I arrived at
Ana’s apartment, waiting for her up front. With the wind and rains,
I felt a lot colder here than Ushuaia and I was shivering. She was
finally here after 15 mins or so, and she gave me a kiss...!! Seriously on the
cheek, I mean.... O-kay.... I guess it is an Argentinean thing, I
noticed guys always kissed girls whoever they are when they greeted.
It is a little more intimate than my tradition, but ok I would play
along with it for now, it is a very dry one. She took me to the apartment. Oh My God!
It is really nice. It is a studio, so there is a bed, a tv, and open
kitchen with basic applicants, some chairs, a huge windows facing the
lake, the floor is probably not real wood, but wood looking and still
very nice. The building even has a indoor pool. It is a few blocks
from the city center, totally walkable, supermarket is one block
away. I will have to explore the surrounding more tomorrow. But holy
cow! I am paying US$48 a night for this place, that is cheap, right?
Just went to the supermarket picked up
some tuna, ham, bread, juice, apple, and banana. That’s the dinner
for the night. With the rain and without an umbrella, I don’t feel
like going out to hunt for a restaurant in town. Friends, please have
all your fingers crossed for me, hope the airline will send me back my
bag tonight, and the wind will calm down for at least a few hours in
the morning so I can take the paragliding flight.
