The Other Shoe

Dropped. Which just goes to show, all the worrying I did this week was a complete waste of my fretting cells. Because, there really was something to worry about. Only, since I didn't know what it was, I could have saved myself a week of stress and channeled all of my Anxiety Superpower into today.

At 5 o'clock this morning, I received an email from Argentinian Airlines rebooking our flights in and out of a charming little town called Bariloche. Reason being, the airport has been closed - for the past six months, research now shows - because of ash clouds from the Chilean volcanic eruption. There is where I pound my head against the table and promise to never book a holiday again without holding the hand of a professional.

Random photo stolen from the internet from when volcano happened.

Although, one imagines that Argentinian Airlines would be a professional organization? Why, one wonders, when the airport has been closed for six months and is not scheduled to re-open, would they book my flights in the first place? I would ponder this longer, but my head hurts from all the pounding.

Plus, and here's the really funny bit, check this out:

23 Dec 2011	USHUAIA, ARGENTINA 10:35	BUENOS AIRES AEP, ARGENTINA 14:03	AR 2853 Operated by AUSTRAL LINEAS AEREAS	Confirmed Economy
23 Dec 2011	BUENOS AIRES AEP, ARGENTINA 12:20	ESQUEL, ARGENTINA 14:53	AR 2684 Operated by AUSTRAL LINEAS AEREAS

They have scheduled us to arrive in Buenos Aires at 14:03, and leave for Esquel at 12:20, on the same day! So while they might not be the most professional outfit on the planet, they have seemingly managed time travel. Yeah, Argentinian Airlines!

Unfortunately, I need to get the kids to school today, get them home again at noon, finish packing and reschedule our flights and hotels before we leave for the airport at 4:00pm. All while doing the Timezone Tango. I don't think Argentina gets out of bed until 4:00pm my time. Ugh.

And indeed, this turned out to be the case. I called Argentinian Airlines and got this message, "Our office is current closed. Please call back between the hours of 9am and 5pm, Monday through Saturday." Nice. AND WHAT FREAKING TIME ZONE ARE YOU IN, PEOPLE? IT'S WAAAYYYY PAST 9AM WHERE I AM!!!!

Oh, sorry. Shouting. A little frustrated. But really. I don't know where the office is, so how can I figure out when 9am happens? My plan, and it is a good one, is to call every hour on the hour until I have to get on the bus to the airport.

Alas, what I need is more time. I would complain about not having time, but then you would hex me for being the most ungrateful human on the planet, so we'll skip that bit.¹

Anyway, it will all come out in the wash. At least, the ash will. Ba-dum bum.

Wish us luck - and maybe a sprinking of Fairy Dust, so we can fly!

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¹ This sentence is plagiarized. I suppose it wouldn't be stolen goods if I would offer Will Work For Feed, who is the writer, Feed. Chocolate, perhaps? Please forgive me, K.W! Remember what they say about plagiarism: it is the sincerest form of flattery.

 

 

Comments

[Jeff]

Not bad to look at the worst case scenario. We get stuck in some random place in Argentina having Christmas together. Probably not that far from a good steak and bottle of red wine.

[Ellen]

And there you have it. Smooch.

[Katherine]

What a nice fellow. Husband points!

[Debbie Hanson]

Awwwww....steak and wine....not to bad at all.

Back on topic....I still giggle every time I think about your time-travel, er, I mean flight.

[Monica]

You've managed to make almost every travel into an adventure! :-)