Our oblique trajectory means that more-than 14 hours of flight only crosses four time zones - mostly we’re making Southings as we forge across the night sky, indeed travelling with the night means it’s an extra long one so I’m awake early writing whilst the remaining occupants of our cabin sleep peacefully, oblivious to the farts someone across the aisle is evilly manufacturing.
My brain can’t do the maths, possibly because I didn’t really need the latter glasses of port, but anyway my Fitbit informs me I’ve had a respectable and relaxed night’s sleep. Reflecting on dinner, the salmon starter was lovely, the beef was interesting in a good way, even if ‘potted meat’ isn’t something I’d serve for fine dining it was very a good taste and elegantly served, and the cheeses were excellent. Our sparkling tour of Europe finally made it back to Epernay thank goodness, there’s a reason the region has reserved name status!
The new KLM cabin is very attractive, no more magnolia, it’s now a bright white with mood lighting to change the colours instead, and the seating is all in pairs, much more agreeable than those that break up the matrimony - I’d rather dine with the Hubby any day. Possibly only Virgin does it better, where one can literally have a dinner table for two, that’s class! Otherwise the facilities and service is excellent, even the starchy stewardess has improved, and the purser is a lovely lady.
Returning to catch a few more z’s the sunrise woke me with a beautiful showing, the news onboard was less pretty - during the night the toilets had filled to capacity and most were closed. The entire plane is now serviced by three, one at the front and two at the rear, no water is available and we are requested to only use if absolutely necessary! Never experienced this before, apparently we will be offered some compo, what price does one put on a toilet visit I wonder?
Breakfast was excellent scrambled eggs, fruit salad and croissants, lovely, if a touch cooler than it should have beeen. Filling in the entry cards, we are amused to have to declare our phone make and model, no idea what that’s all about? In the end, the forms were not collected, so the mystery remains unanswered.
After a rediculously smooth entry into Argentina (we were first at immigration and about third through baggage) we quickly found our driver and were speeding towards the cruise port before 07:00, our bags handed over by 08:00 and we then set off walking towards the Boca. This is the colourful artisan area of the city, about five miles south. It was great to revisit the dockside area en route, then on the return stop off to pay homage to Mrs Peron at the Red House, Casa Rosata. Sadly the area in front had vast road-works, but nevertheless we did the touristy bit, and then walked back via the equivalent of Threadneedle St (or Wall St) again fighting road-works on the way.
By this time we’re flagging a little - an early start, my now 12kg backpack, the 25+ degrees and high humidity, so it was decided to cut short our planned walk and not visit Recoletta, when said Evita is entombed, we’ve done that before too. So we went back to the cruise terminal and checked in, and by 12:30 we were sat on the aft of the ship enjoying a Chardonnay and planning a leisurely buffet lunch. We still couldn’t get into our cabins, this is quite normal so early on on embarkation day, so we wandered a little, stopped for Champagne and a chat with a nice Mitchigan couple at another bar, and then headed to the forward jacuzzi until it was time for the safety drill.
After the drill, we discovered that the heavens had opened, and torrential rain got in the way of the planned sail away drinks around the pool. We had no intention of attending this anyway, so just continued our plan to take a mojito to the forward jacuzzi and watch BA shrink from there. It’s was quite satisfying to be in the middle of a tropical downpour yet still enjoy the “Seabourn Moment” as they love to say!
After a couple of champagne cocktails, dinner was by the pool as planned, even though the breeze was quite challenging - still a balmy evening with excellent pasta, shrimp cocktail and pork medallions (served pink and juicy) ... all very good.
An early night is required to reset the clocks, so that’s enough for this particular blog! Photos will have to wait sorry!
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