Chasing Summer –

There is a downpour going on right now, so I figure it’s the perfect time to write about the boarding process. 

About a month ago, there was a storm that damaged the port docking area that the cruise ships usually use, so the passengers had to go to a different area to preboard and then bus to the immigration and boarding area.

It’s not the biggest deal, except I already had my lodging booked near the original port and planned to walk there. Not willing to accept defeat, I decided to still enjoy a morning stroll to the boat even though my walk time, according to Google, had gone from 20 minutes to an hour and twenty minutes.

At the 45-minute mark of dragging my luggage and sweating like a crazy person, I decided that maybe a taxi wouldn’t have been a bad idea. But I didn’t quit because I’m too stubborn for my own good. Don’t be like me. Busses cost about 15- 70 cents US equivalent or even an Uber would have cost me a whopping $3 US.

Of course, when i was about 10 minutes walk away I ran into a major road that wouldn’t be safe for a pedestrian, so I ended up grabbing a taxi for the short distance anyway. Cost me 800 pesos – less than a dollar.

On my walk, I realized a couple of things. One, Buenos Aires, loves brick and cobblestone here, so walking with a roller was harder than I thought it would be. That 75-minute Google estimate was way off because of the luggage on those streets. I walked for 105 minutes.

Two, mosquitoes are everywhere here.  Even in the sun, if you stop, you will get bitten. I wish I had bought some repellent yesterday.

Third, there are no stray animals that I saw. There were a few homeless dogs, but they clearly belonged to a homeless person, so they aren’t strays. I also have seen no cats.

Fourth, there is very little trash on the streets. Around the garbage bins/dumpsters, there is overflowing garbage that has spilled onto the sidewalk, but beyond that, it is very clean.

After finally finding the building to preboard I walked my red sweaty self in. First up was a luggage drop off, which I was more than thrilled to get taken away. Then, a group number to board the shuttles. I waited about 15 minutes before my group got to go to the next building for immigration.

After checking in and immigration we had to give up our passports and it was off on another bus to the boat.

They didn’t wait for the bus to be full, so we moved quickly. On board, we did the usual scanning of our cards to say we are here and finding the assigned muster station for another checkin.

For now, as I wait for the boat to leave, I’ll just sit back, put my sore feet up, and enjoy a spicy watermelon twist.