Planes, Trains & Automobiles (and Boats!)

Lord love a duck! (or I guess a penguin) Things are getting serious now.  Less than two months to go!  I feel like we dropped a tiny pebble at the top of a mountain and it slowly rolled down for a couple of years but now it is a giant snowball crashing towards us at warp speed.  

Don't get crushed by that 'TO DO' list!

Where to start... 

I've been booking accommodations on Bookings.com. They consider me a third level genius.  Who am I to say no to such praise! 

I wonder if I book harder, maybe I can make it to Genius Level 4! 

We know when our plane lands in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  We know when our cruise leaves Montevideo, Uruguay.  The bit between was a bit blurry.  I booked a two bedroom apartment for our time in Buenos Aires but I kind of missed two days and only booked until October 20. And our place is no longer available for the next two days.  

And we know when our cruise arrives in Ushuaia and when we fly out of Buenos Aires but again, a bit blurry between those two dates.  I think at one point, I had three places booked, maybe four?  How long in Ushuaia?, how long is Buenos Aires?.  I had looked at so many places and dates, it was all starting to swirl.  

But the real issue isn't where to stay.  It is what to do with our luggage. 

I'm not sure if I have mentioned our luggage situation.  Not so much of a situation, just different rules for different modes of transportation.  We are business class on our flight down (as if you forgot!) which means we are allowed a ridiculous amount of luggage.  Two checked bags, a carry-on bag and a personal bag.  Those of you who know me, know I can do a month long trip (at least before I start shopping) with just a carry on.  So, this is luxury.  We are going to need to take at least two bags because we need a lot of bulky stuff for the cruise:  Boots, mitts, base layers, rain pants, toques etc.  

Side note on the luggage.  We have a one hour layover in Houston. ONE HOUR!  So, I fully expect our checked bags to not make it to Buenos Aires at the same time as us (I barely expect for us to make it, any delays will do us in but I digress from my digression).  Anyway...  

My plan is to pack Buenos Aires clothes in my carry on, with essentials - camera, tablet, medications.  And then pack my 'winter' Antarctic stuff in my checked bag.  With the hope (and prayer) that it makes it to Buenos Aires before we leave for the cruise. 

But the cruise only lets us have one bag, soft sided, that fits in whatever tiny space they allow us.  And flights from Ushuaia also only allow one bag. So, we are going to have to leave our Buenos Aires stuff somewhere pre-cruise.  

G Adventures kindly let us know that we can leave our stuff at the Dazzler.  But the Dazzler is in Montevideo.  Which would mean we would have to get back to Buenos Aires from Ushuaia, then over to Montevideo, then back to Buenos Aires for our flight home.  Buenos Aires to Montevideo is somewhat like Victoria to Vancouver in distance.  The quickest route is a 2.5 hour ferry which only goes three days a week.  So, even if we wanted to go back to Montevideo, the ferry times means we would have to stay overnight and then get back to Buenos Aires the day of our flight.  Not a good plan. 

Penguin break: here is a penguin on a plane. 

No carry-on luggage for this guy

Amy, who is smart, came up with a great plan.  Remember back when I said I forgot to book anything between Oct 20 to Oct 22 when we go to the Dazzler (I do love saying the Dazzler).  Ok, let's just say it, Amy is smart(er than me).  Amy suggested we book into a proper hotel near the ferry terminal before we go to Montevideo and when we come back to Buenos Aires and hopefully they will keep our second bag for the three weeks between.  

I booked in at the Waldorf Hotel (not likely affiliated with THE Waldorf hotel) for two days before the cruise and two days before we leave for home.  And then emailed them to ask if they will store our bags.  Yes, they said they will.  So, that's good.  

All of this also forced us to plan those last little connections. Ferry from Buenos Aires to Montevideo, flight from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires.  

The ferry doesn't go on the day we check into the Dazzler so we have to spend an extra night in Montevideo.  Book into the Dazzler for an extra night.  I called G Adventures.  If we book the extra night through them:  $200.  Through Booking.com: $97.  Booking.com it is.  Booked.  Must update reservation at the Waldorf to just one night October 21st (or 20th, I CANNOT wrap my head around the dates...) 

We also bought our plane tickets from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires.  Due to the time limitation, we will only spend one night in Ushuaia and catch an evening flight the next day.  It wasn't that much more expensive than the morning flight so we can still do the train and park tour. 

Whoosh, that was a lot. 

And now, for no reason at all except that you never know what you'll find when googling, here is a penguin train conductor: 

All Abird!  (hahaha, terrible)