Day 0, Argentina begins

Really more like 2 days altogether. Day 0 is travel time. With about 20 hours each devoted to flying and bussing, not including layovers or wait times. Left the States with no problems, but found the plane flying one big circle as we were waiting to land in Buenos Aires. Fog covered the entire city, with no indication that there was life on the ground below us, save for a few tree patterns that looked man-made. A snowboard filmer from LA sat in the seat in front of me and shared stories of plans for our trips. Me – the aspiring snowboard writer looking to pick up some travel stories and enjoy my first international trip on my own. Him – a last minute jaunt to snowboard country to meet up with a crew of riders and get some footage.

Wishing my new airplane friend a farewell after customs, we separated ways with our snowboard gear, perhaps keeping an eye out for each other on the mountain. I purchased a ticket for a short ride to the bus station, only hoping I understood the woman correctly, who helped me with information. No, she said, the bus I need to take is not at the airport, but rather, in the city center. Unsure of every direction I was heading, my bus was, indeed, at the station – one of the 200+ busses that pass through this station. A short wait, and the 20 hour bus ride began. A double-decker bus with almost fully-reclinable chairs transported the 40 or so passengers to Bariloche, complete with meal service and entertainment, the latter being a sad choice of American movies or Spanish live-recorded concerts.

The meals, though entertaining itself, were nothing more than replenishing. Seran-wrapped snacks of sugary croissants and dulce de leche were packaged in the same styrafoam ‘plates’ we use in the States for slabs of meat. Dinner resembled a cross between a TV dinner and airplane food – sectionalized compartments for each ‘course,’ and the camera unfortunately left deep in a luggage pocket in the bus storage.

Lots of semi-conscious sleep, but the bus attendant, with his wonderful company, was generous with the wine, which always makes for a nice sleeping aid. Fly and drive. That’s all that happened. The end.