The Beach in Punta del Este, Uruguay
February 3
Depart Miami on American Airlines flight 989 nonstop to Montevideo, Uruguay.
I had called American's Special Assistance number ahead of time (as I always do) to give them all of the information about my needs and my wheelchair. Check-in went quickly, I was given the obligatory 'Heavy' baggage tag for my wheelchair and confirmed that there would be an aisle chair (a narrow little chair to get me down the aisle of the plane) waiting at the gate for me. I was assured that it would be. Well, we wandered down to our gate in the satellite E concourse ahead of the one hour prior to departure boarding time (1 hr. for the general public--Could it really take an hour to board a plane? Apparently in Miami that's a resounding Yes.), notified the gate agent of my presence and was quickly surrounded by the airport's contracted 'helpers,' which did genuinely seem eager to do their job, namely, help.
It didn't help the our gate was in the 'High E' Satelitte concourse that willl eventually phased out--I just didn't remamber the fun we could have! After playing a little over-the-river-and through-the-woods using decrepit tiny elevators to go down to the plane level, followed by the meandering through maze of international arrival hallways that had no gate markings whatsoever (just 'Go Back, No Entry' signs), then a series of sliding doors that took various combinations of ID access cards and keys that would've made Maxwell Smart proud, we finally arrived at our gate. Unfortunately, American's gate agents decided that a perfect time to begin general boarding was during our little lab rat in the maze quiz downstairs, which we apparently failed because when we finally got to the door of the plane there was no aisle chair to be found.
Flight was scheduled to depart at 11pm, but didn't push back until after midnight.
February 4
Transit from Montevideo Airport to Punta del Este and Check-in
February 5
Punta del Este, Uruguay
February 6
Punta del Este, Uruguay
February 7
Punta del Este, Uruguay
February 8
Depart Punta del Este by bus to Montevideo, then Buquebus ferry to Buenos Aires
February 9
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Sitting on the Puente de la Mujer bridge in the Puerto Madero area with the Customs House in the background. The
February 10
Buenos Aires, Argentina
February 11
Depart Buenos Aires, Argentina and Arrive in Miami, Flight 908
A view of the Buenos Aires Airport (Ezeiza) check-in area from the second floor, AA checkin area in the far distance. Unlike our 2008 trip, the ONE elevator in the airport outside security was working this time.
February 12
Arrivehome in Miami
Much more detail and phothos to come!
