Buenos Aires is the southernmost place I have yet been.
The journey down was great. I was late leaving the house as a conference call expected to take 15 minutes took almost 90. I dropped the kids off at their Mom's house and headed for the airport.
Going through TSA was graced by fortuitous timing. As I was about to ask for a pat down they announced that the full body scanner needed calibration. We passed through the metal detectors, no pat down required!
I love the remodel at the #dtw @delta #skyclub. The new counters overlooking the main entry from TSA makes for good people watching.
on July 06, 2012 at 04:47PM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221344648113823745
The Delta SkyClub lounge at DTW is good. I was at the big one at the middle of the terminal. The wifi was serviceable to good with the ebb and flow of travelers. I finished my workday from there. New counters installed along the glass overlooking the walkway from TSA to the terminal meant I could stand while I worked. Outlets run the length of the counters so power was no issue.
Dear @foursquare @4sqSupport I can't log in, then can't check in, etc. from multiple devices. "Foursquare could not connect." Any issues?
on July 06, 2012 at 01:30PM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221295022140686337
My Foursquare check-ins were spotty. They must still have had service issues.
I am at @dtw on my way to #eze. I hope the air traffic controllers there are back on the job! #vacation #theresnothinginmyhouseworthstealing
on July 06, 2012 at 01:41PM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221297789685088256
I learned of the municipal works strike earlier in the day. All reports from Delta said things would proceed normally. And they did.
Wouldn't it be better for everyone in the @delta #skyclub if all the mobile devices were muted? #commoncourtesy #insidevoices
on July 06, 2012 at 01:41PM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221297925676994561
Not only were peoples' phones ringing, they were ringing LOUDLY. And everyone took their time answering or ignoring the call. One woman near me wanted to share her half of the conversation with the entire SkyClub.
Drinking a Singapore IPA by @saugatuckbrew - http://t.co/iIiW5vyA #photo
on July 06, 2012 at 01:47PM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221299344815562752
They had a good beer on tap. Snack wise they don't offer much. Crunchy things are off my menu, so I ate cheese and sucked hummus out of little cardboard tubes. Oh, and seasoned olives.
You are both on the same flight. Please stop making out like you'll never see each other again! #dtw
on July 06, 2012 at 02:59PM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221317340170690560
Public displays of affection seem to be a common theme so far on this trip. This couple were the first. Little did I know folks would be making out all over the place.
When you have an evil looking mustache maybe spending 10 minutes taking pictures in a US airport isn't a good move. http://t.co/5HPsKDveon July 06, 2012 at 03:08PM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221319848469336064
Now the red shirts are taking a picture of the mustache guy. #DTW http://t.co/zbGOYtgdon July 06, 2012 at 03:14PM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221321152319066114
This fellow stood around taking pictures of the TSA area. At first I thought his mustache was Hitler-esque, but it was just run-of-the-mill evil looking. Apparently no one on staff cared. They even took pictures for him and with him! Very strange dealing, indeed.
Could be a communist cabal. #DTW http://t.co/smb0nLWKon July 06, 2012 at 03:50PM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221330303338283008
I am officially off the clock! I'm on vacation time now. #dtw #skyclub @delta
on July 06, 2012 at 04:46PM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221344404387016704
A sample of the people watching. http://t.co/IEqXlvL4on July 06, 2012 at 04:49PM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221345199497031681
I'm not a fan I the kid leash. http://t.co/oLUIOV0Fon July 06, 2012 at 04:51PM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221345688225710080
I left the lounge a few minutes early to pick up some chocolate for my flights' crews. Over at TBTL they talked about taking chocolates to the flight crew in hopes of free alcohol. I flew first class so that wasn't an issue. I wanted to do it anyway. I wanted to start my vacation off and share a bit of it with those who were taking me there.
Bit of a boarding snafu. I had to get my passport reviewed a third time. @delta might want to review. (@ Gate A20) http://t.co/ppY71I9Mon July 06, 2012 at 05:27PM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221354661750378496
Apparently they had been paging me. One thing about the paging system at DTW - if you're not at the gate listening it is impossible to hear. No one called to the SkyClub, either.
My complaint was that I couldn't print the boarding pass at home. Yes, I can do the Delta app, but I like the paper as a backup. So I went to the kiosk. It verified my passport. Then at the SkyClub they verified my passport. So why was I asked for it a third time? Irritating, made more so by the general lack of organization at the gate.
If that's the worst that happens on this trip I'll be a happy man, indeed!
The trip is feeling real. Me = 😀
on July 06, 2012 at 05:39PM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221357721071521794
The #dl2287 flight crew from #dtw to #atl is great. @delta
on July 06, 2012 at 06:35PM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221371804130881538
The flight to Atlanta was nice and uneventful. Since I am on vacation I enjoyed several adult beverages on the flight. The crew appreciated the chocolate.
It seems my Russian language skills aren't wasted in AR. They make use of a similar 'juh' in pronouncing things that start w/'ll'
on July 06, 2012 at 06:46PM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221374587588448259
I studied up on my Spanish on the plane. The odd thing is that when I try to pull the words from my head I get the German equivalents.
On my way to #atl en route to #eze. This tweet is from 30K feet.
on July 06, 2012 at 06:48PM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221375102388940802
There's a mf-ing fly on this mf-ing plane. #themoreyouknow
on July 06, 2012 at 06:57PM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221377285721292800
I'm at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) (Atlanta, GA) w/ 162 others http://t.co/Ac0mzlNSon July 06, 2012 at 07:35PM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221386891407278081
Unable to pull into the gate. #dl2287 #atl #DTW @Delta
on July 06, 2012 at 07:40PM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221388174545522688
On my way! To Buenos Aires! Woohoo!
on July 06, 2012 at 08:36PM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221402379470385153
The flight from Atlanta to Buenos Aires was great. The food was great. The flight crew was top notch. The business class seats were the older ones but did lay flat. I slept after maybe enjoying one too many beverages.
When we finally reached Buenos Aires I got a little nervous as we circled three times. Ultimately it was fine and we landed.
It costs $160 US for a 10 year visa. As I sidled up to the window to pay I remembered I forgot to call the credit card company to tell them I'd be traveling. It was no issue. I converted some money at a bad rate and rented a taxi to the hotel.
I'm at Hilton Buenos Aires (Ciudad de Buenos Aires) http://t.co/9AnOOKUVon July 07, 2012 at 10:36AM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221613755593785344
The room was not only ready but I was upgraded into the executive floor. The room is nice. The room is HUGE.
I unpacked, which takes me 10 minutes if I'm lazy. Breakfast was still serving in the lounge, so I walked over. Unfortunately my phone was still on EDT. I planned on taking a walking tour, but by the time I learned the real time there was no time to get there on time.
So I wandered, lonely as a cloud.
I'm at Yacht Club Puerto Madero (Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires) [pic]: http://t.co/CVKstTYPon July 07, 2012 at 10:38AM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221614053959806979
I walked from the hotel to each end of Puerto Madero. My legs were killing me after my first journey. My bag is too heavy even when mostly empty. I love my Red Oxx, but I need to find something lighter.
The weather was sunny with temperatures in the 40s and 50s. So many folks were bundled up like it was below freezing with a massive windchill.
Midday I came back to the hotel to unload my bad and pop some aspirin. I decided to take a quick nap. By "Quick" I must have meant 3 hours. I headed out again to wander the parts of the port I hadn't seen yet. After the public kissing, the next most common thing I saw were roller blades and skateboarders. There were a few samples of soccer, but not as many as I thought there would be.
Snack and drinks before dinner. (@ Hilton Buenos Aires Executive Lounge) [pic]: http://t.co/76JaNU6won July 07, 2012 at 05:17PM: http://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/221714610615627778
I'm writing this from the lounge with a glass of malbec. I'm debating over a couple of restaurants for dinner that I passed earlier in the day. I'll ask the staff for their recommendations.
So far I couldn't ask for a better start to the trip.