Leaving Buenos Aires (Day 5)

My bus adventure starts today. I went exchange some traveller's cheques at the American Express centre (no service fees if you do it there, if you have to time to wait in the lines...) which was fortunately located on this humungous plaza in Retiro, which is decidedly the business district (read: white collar and power suits everywhere). Also in this plaza is the National Park Administration Centre for Argentina which is in a fantastic building (I think I have a photo). I went back to the hostel to pick up my gear, got a few apples for the road (pretty sure got ripped off, but my own fault for not speaking the language!) and headed to the bus station. I'm not sure I had do justice to a description of the Retiro bus station in Buenos Aires, but here goes:

Picture a 3-storey building that has platforms for over 75 buses. To give you an idea of the size, the bus station is at least 3 times the size of the Ezeiza international airport. I found where they post the schedule for arrivals so you know in what corner of the overwhelming jungle of buses to go to, but I of course didn't see my bus. I wandered up to a police officer to ask for help (I must have been a sorry sight) and I think he told me that my bus would arrive at Platforma quize (15). So, I headed off in that direction to catch my 13:30 bus. When a different company's bus arrived at 13:18, I started to get a little panicked. But, another police officer assured me that I was in the right place- besides he said (I think) that it was still pretty early for the 13:30 bus. Right, I forgot where I was for a moment. Everything is super laid-back, except the stressing solo tourist trying to decipher the bus maze. But, as luck would have it, not 10 minutes later, almost promptly at 13:30, the El Valle bus to Bariloche arrived and I boarded no problem. I got a thumb's up from the officer as I headed to the bus :)

But this bus isn't like any bus I've ever been on. Greyhound, and Air Canada, could take a few lessons from the Argentine bus system. These buses have 2 decks, almost fully reclining luxurious seats, enough leg room to slosh around comfortably in your seats, on-board television entertainment and full service meals! How sweet is this! I think I'm gonna dig this bus transportation. I also have to point out that the bus arrived, loaded and departed in the span of about 5 minutes. This is the most organized and efficient process I've seen so far in Buenos Aires.

I should also throw in here that I've contacted a new farm to volunteer at. I was chatting with some people at the hostel who have been doing farmstays during their trip and they told me that friends of theirs had a really bad experience with the farm that I was planned to go to. So, I found another farm in El Bolson, who actually asked for an application and an interview (lesson learned) in hopes that I can head there instead. I'm not sure if I can go there directly after I arrive in Bariloche or not, so I'll check to see if I have an email response before I leave Bariloche. I hope this farmstay works about because I'm really looking forward to seeing a thriving organic farm in action. And to see if it's something that I like that I may want to try in the future.

An now, for a few random thoughts as I leave Buenos Aires:
I have seen an incredible number of un-neutered pet dogs (read: owned and on-leashed), which may have something to do with the number of stray dogs, and cats, and the abundance of dog poo everywhere...
I think I can count on one hand the number of SUVs I've seen in the city (and I've seen a lot, a LOT of cars here) which is a blessing since I can't imagine what the smog would be like if everyone drove the beast cars North Americans drive...
Some areas of Buenos Aires are definitely cleaner than others, but not necessarily the places you would expect. Caminito was quite clean (except for dog bombs baking in the hot sun) where San Telmo really wasn't and some of the higher-end areas where still pretty dirty. I can't decide if there's a garbage pick-up schedule or not, since it seems people leave bags of trash on the sideway any old day it suits...
Despite the phenomenal weather I've experienced since arriving, grass doesn't seem to grow. No surprise really when you contemplate the air pollution and the fact that the city doesn't have composting or much public recycling...
Something I ate last night didn't like me. I thought I was just having anxiety pangs, but Susie is either having sympathy pains for me or what we both ate doesn't like us. I think it's the second one. I'm okay, but I can feel my unhappy tummy makes angry faces at me...
It seems that kids, regardless of their age, also stay up til all hours of the night. Not unusual to see infants, toddlers and young kids running around well after midnight. Summer vacation or not...
There's a lot of smoking here. LOTS. So much that after walking around outside all day, I smell like an ashtray. Apparently cigarettes are really cheap in Argentina. And, I guess if you live in a city where the pollution is probably destroying your lungs, you might as well at least enjoy a cigarette while you're at it?! Can't imagine jogging or playing ultimate in this city- I'd have that sexy smoker-voice pronto...

Okay, that's enough random thoughts for now. Gotta sit in my massive window (with real curtains) and enjoy the bus ride.