2011 January | iLoveMySleep

Entering Argentina with a single ticket & non-chip passport

23 Jan 2011 No Comments

by iLoveMySleepin Argentina, South America Tags: Argentina, Sout America

One of my big concerns was entering Argentina. First of all I have to come back to a fact of getting on the plane at all. As I’ve read and been warned by people, that without having return or onward ticket from/to South America, the airline will most probably refuse my plane boarding.

Pretty worrying fact, if they happily sell you the single ticket anyway. I was flying with Air Europa from London to Madrid then waiting 2 hours at Barajas to board my plane to Buenos Aires.

Despite of all warnings, I’ve decided to take a risk and go with single ticket only. Flying out of Gatwick, I had smoothest check in ever. I didn’t have to wait at all, I mean no queue at all; take that for a start of the journey! All went well, no silly questions, if I have enough money or onward ticket, just very nice flight attendant and good vibes.

I must say, I had Annie to support me with good energy and her advice to print out Bank Statements from my accounts to have them as proof of my funds. Very simple, but great advice. Thank you! (and also for driving me to the airport and cooking delicious chicken soup with dumplings = priceless. With me being still ill it was a massive help. Don’t worry I’m not going to post that video of you driving and swearing, ha-ha-ha).

At the airport security checks, I’ve been held up with thorough search and to my own embarrassment, (brother, stop reading this paragraph now) I’ve forgotten to put into my checked in luggage my special Swiss Army knife that I’ve got from my lovely brother on Christmas. Damn it! All the possible swearwords in all languages I know were floating in my head. I had to say goodbye to my knife, my own fault, so it’s gone now.

Entering the Argentinian boarding control was smooth. I didn’t get asked any questions at all and my old passport that is valid until 2013 was just fine, despite of Slovakian embassy in Buenos Aires stating on their website that I need new passport with chip.

All the way I stayed positive, saying to myself: “Everything will be fine, I’ll get through.” I did!

Well, Hello Argentina, here I come.

Flight to Argentina with Aerolíneas Argentinas

22 Jan 2011 No Comments

by iLoveMySleepin Argentina, South America Tags: Argentina, Sout America

Waiting in Barajas Madrid, sitting by the window and checking my big Jumbo Plane, which would take me to South America. I still find it amazing how such a big, heavy flying monster can actually take off, fascinating for the laic eye.

Argentinian Airlines were good to me. Think any English only speaker might not say the same, as on such a long flight they’ve put only one movie, all in Spanish and with old style TVs in corridor. Dream on about luxury of having your own TV in the seat in front of you with your own selection of entertainment. I certainly didn’t mind, as I had a big fat smile on my face as soon as we took off. Not only I had cool window seat, but two seats next to me were empty. I was one of the few lucky ones that had space to stretch and sleep. Take that for Tourist class = luxury. I slept well.

One of my highlights of the Aerolíneas Argentinas was dinner, not only served by great looking woman with sexy accent, but her first question was: “quiere carne o pollo?” (do you want meat or chicken?)

I immediately settled into the notion of country where meat is the way of life. Just how good Argentinian meat is! It surely deserves a story of its own. Best plane dinner I’ve had so far was stew beef with rice served by Aerolíneas Argentinas, of course had to be accompanied by red wine and my shiny appreciative smiling eyes.

That was start of my journey and somehow I knew it’s going to be special.