Writes of Passage

Posadas 1232, C1011 CABA
Buenos Aires

… more pix on Google Maps; TA

This Sofitel is in Recoleta.

~ 2018 in Hangzhou’s Sofitel

Location is excellent, in a tree lined street in Recoleta neighborhood. Across street from a small shopping mall Patio Bullrich, which has movie theatre and cafe. A few blocks north (left) is the good restaurant Fervor and cute cigar bar, both highly recommended.

Very good service; again most of the staff don’t speak English.

Hotel has a restaurant Alma on the ground floor. A gym, pool (could use some cleaning!) and sauna on the first floor.

Our room is spacious, so is the bathroom. The electrical power outlet uses Type I – 3 prong. (Some other hotels in Buenos Aires use European Type F – 2 round prong). I only find one usb port in the room.

Bathroom. The corner of the bath tub is beautifully rounded out. Water pressure in the shower is very good. The three essential, shampoo, bath gel and conditioner (that’s how my shower’s sequence) are good but very difficult to get to – the pumps are too small and too close to the wall. Can’t imagine how some one with bigger hand …

Open drainage – ok it isn’t ‘open’ but it feels like it – you’ll hear every drop of water down the drain. Maybe it’s their way to remind you to conserve water.

Two elevators function well and quick. But at group check out time, it can take for long time. Remedy: go up first.

Posadas 1245, C1011ABE CABA
Buenos Aires

… more pix on Google Maps

A shopping center with parking garage, in Recoleta neighborhood in Buenos Aires.

Salvatore Ferragamo anchors the mall. It’s in Recoleta neighborhood, across street from our hotel Sofitel.

It’s mixed domestic and international midrange shops, such as Zegan, Pandora, MaxMara and Omega.
It’s nicely laid out, very pleasant, with a garage.

Food and drink on Swan’s ships are always good, till I get bored of it.

Day 2: a bending knife

1. Wababi prawns – good
2. French onion soup – without cheese
3. Mixed garden – good
4. Lamb chops – dry
5. Chocolate cheese cake – mousse cake
6. Strawberry sorbet – good
7. Wine
   1. Crianza Viña Amézola Rioja 2018
   2. Chateau Grand Moulin Syrah 2016 – better

Buffet for day 1, as usual. The three wines are decent. Cutio for lunch and the other two for dinner, and the skipper with his team in the kitchen.

Puerto Turístico (Tourist Port)
Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

… more pix & videos on Google Map

The cruise ship port has one pier: small and efficient. Our plane touched down at Malvinas Argentinas International Airport at 1:21pm. On the bus at 1:40, drove off 9 minutes later. It’s 15 minutes ride to the port. We boarded our ship at 2pm.

There is a check point, so do bring your passport if you want to visit the city (and return to the ship).

The white strips in the middle of the pier is for us, the pedestrians. When the wind is strong, there are safety guards blowing whistler, to remind you to walk on the white lines, not to be blown into the water.

^{fin del mundo the end of the world sign by the port of Ushuaia. Our ship Diana is left most. More pix on Google Maps.}  

The end of the world. The capital of Tierra del Fuego. Population 82,615 (2022 census).

~ the airport USH
~ tourist port
~ El Viejo Marino

It’s a little less than 3.5 hours flight from Buenos Aires.

The city reminds me of Alaska and Reykjavik – duh -:).

Hard Rock Cafe on Av Maipu/Maipú ↓ and on Diana

This young lady is a local contract worker, who is on our bus, both times. She’s outgoing and chatty. Swan (or local contractor) hires her only to help out at the airport, taking us to and from the ship. She asked where we’re from. For simplify, I said New York. Sorry Florida … I don’t mean to overlook you!

Her eyes lighted up, “Oh I was there for a week a few years ago.”
“Really? How did you like it?”
“Oh I LOVE it! Wish I could go back.”
“DO go.” I egg her on.
She just smiled. Did I detect a little 无奈 She seems like a girl with ambition, that’s bit too big for Ushuaia.

随遇而安 Take things as they come is an idiom. I suppose immigrants like me are somewhat ambitious? Who am I to say a frog in a well 井底之蛙 isn’t happy?

Ok, the backdrop of the town is the snow capped Martial Range. The front is our cruise ships on the Beagle Channel, and oh, howling wind.

Av. Prefectura Naval Argentina is on the water, that leads to the cruise port. There is Tia Elvira, a king crab restaurant that a friend has recommended but unfortunately it closes on Sundays. MEF Museo del Fin del Mundo, End of the World Museum

Av. Maipu is their main street. There is a Hard Rock Cafe, didn’t see a McDonald (maybe I missed it…)

We travel light: carryon only. So the first thing after landing is to hunt for a bottle of Listerine, the mouth wash. Finally found a supermarket that is open, and sells it.

远征1
我们出游总是轻装上阵: 就一件携带行李. 因此, 每到一个地方后第一件事就是寻找李施德林(Listerine)漱口水.
昨天的远征也不容易 主要星期天很多地方都不上班.
一靓仔哥介绍吃帝王蟹的餐馆也不开门 简直走鸡 哦 应该是走蟹

吃完闭门羹之后就继续我们的漱口水远征. We’d dine at El Viejo after the Antarctic trip

Wind 💨
Wind 🌬️
and more Howling wind at Ushuaia

昨天启航前 风继续吹 … 想念哥哥喔 虽二风是风马牛 (风马牛不相及) [偷笑]

小说明 码头上的白色条是给行人走的. 当有人想走近船时 警卫不停的吹口哨 警告我们回白条… 不想行人被吹进海里. 还真是 劲风呼啸 轻飘飘的 亦步亦趋 等下一个小风才敢迈步向前… 当时就想 … 为啥要减肥呀 以前的300磅 该有多美好啊😆

^{over Ushuaia}

Aerolineas Argentinas is one of the handful airlines that goes to Ushuaia.

… more pix on Google Maps.

The chartered B737, AR1952, out of EZE (Ministro Pistarini International Airport) is scheduled to depart at 9:45. The boarding stair is removed at 9:45 and we took off at 9:56. It landed 1:21. 1:40 on the bus #1 to our ship Diana. 9 minutes, we’re off.

Breakfast tray has good looking plastic white containers. Yogurt in a glass jar. I wanted to ask them if they’re throwing the jar away – so I can keep it, but decided against: my language skill and we’re too far away from home. I’m a nut, even entertain the idea. Oh well.

V9401 Ushuaia
Tierra del Fuego Province, Argentina
Aeropuerto Internacional de Ushuaia

… more pix on Google Maps

Small. Timer. Function well.

Our cruise chartered plane touched down at Malvinas Argentinas International Airport at 1:21pm. On the bus at 1:40, drove off 9 minutes later. It’s 15 minutes ride to the port. We boarded our ship at 2pm.

I only have a carry on but the couple in front of me to the bus have retrieved their checked in luggage. I’m pretty impressed with its efficiency.

… one too many aerial photos -:) taken with my iPhone.

Calle Posadas 1232
Buenos Aires C1011ABF Argentina

… more pix on Google Maps

May return: very good service but so so food.

Don’t what did we do but Sofitel offered us this free dinner, of $25 value, each.

Pleasant decor. Wonderful thin glasses, water glass is better than wine – bit too small, especially for red. Love their napkins.
The house wine has pretty strong legs but the label tells me nothing.

Hot bread. Yummy hummus.

Three main courses. The fish, at their opening at 8 o’clock is out. We settled for the other two: steak and pasta.

Both are tasty but they didn’t ask me how do I like my sirloin cooked, which they overcooked it – medium, which is dry.
The two desserts are so so.

Thank you but probably no thanks.

Ayacucho 2134, C1112AAN CABA
B, Argentina

… more pix on Google Maps

A lovely little cigar bar by our Sofitel hotel, that feels like someone’s private library. It’s a block away from the restaurant Fervor which I so enjoyed. Their humidor is up front by the street. There are two little seating areas outdoor. This one is intimate, while the Cigar International superstore in Tampa is lively, with sport fans. The only two cigar bars I’ve been to.

Posadas 1519
C1112 Buenos Aires
Argentina
Recoleta

… more pix on Google Maps, Yelp, TA

Will return: old world charm; good service and delicious food.

Location: really good in Recoleta neighborhood. Only a few blocks away from our hotel Sofitel.
Seating: multiple levels with outdoor area
Service: really good, on point.
Food: delicious
Food portion: large

Reservation is recommended.

The Blinkmax glass on our table is unmatched -:)

The bread basket is to die for. I ended up finish the cheese crispy.

Two red wine we’ve is excellent: Luca Old Vine Malbecs 2021 and Bramare Cab 2019.

I wanted the white salmon but unfortunately they don’t have it. In fact they’re out of several fishes. So I settled for sole, which is fresh. After adding generous among of salt and peppy, it just popped.

Rib eye is tender and cooked to perfection.

Side dish: potato chunks is kind of unappealing. Tin cans of hot chili is an eyesore – can’t they present them in a more appealing way? I don’t care for any of the three fish sauce. Sole itself, with salt and pepper is delicious enough.

No desserts – too many restaurants to try, too little belly space.