Sofi’s Apartment in Buenos Aires – El apartamento de Sofi

Getting to Argentina was much more difficult than I had anticipated. I was supposed to fly out on Friday, June 24 at 22:00 (10:00 p.m.). First we had a half hour delay. Then it was pushed back another hour. The worst part was that they were not telling us why the flight was being delayed – the weather was perfect. It turned out that they had to change a part, but they did not tell us that until much later. At one point the pilots and crew left to go to the lounge, and I learned that Argentinians clap in unison when they are frustrated with how things are going. Several times I thought there was going to be a riot. I was not the only one because security guards were called to stand by the attendants’ desk. Finally, at about midnight, they started boarding. I was on the bridge when the pilots and crew passed me on the way back into the plane, but I did not make it much further before they halted boarding without informing us why. It was broiling hot on the bridge with no air conditioning, and soon I was sweating. One by one people started to sit down, a few looked like they were going to faint. After more than half an hour the pilots and crew left the plane again, refusing to talk to people. The crowd was extremely agitated, and I heard a lot of screaming as they exited behind me. Everyone was taken off of the plane and bridge, and we were finally told what was happening. The pilot had decided that he was too tired to fly, then changed his mind and said he would, only to change it back again. He would not be taking us to Argentina that night, and the airline was looking for another pilot. By then it was 1:00 a.m., and the chances of finding one seemed small. Sure enough, at 1:20, they announced that the flight would not leave until 10:30 a.m., that there were no hotel rooms available in the area, and that they would be giving us pillows to sleep in the airport. More screaming, shouting and angry clapping accompanied this announcement, as people swarmed the desk. The airline agents looked harried and frightened for their lives. I decided that flight was not meant to be for me and left to re-book my flight for the next day, once I found out that I could do so without incurring a fee. Poor Douglas roused himself from a full forty-five minutes of sleep to come pick me up, and a text was sent to my Argentinian host that I would not be arriving until the following day.

Llegar a la Argentina me fue más difícil de lo que había anticipado. Iba a salir a las 22:00 el viernes 24 de junio, pero al final salí con un día de retraso. Primero hubo una demora de una media hora. Después, nos dijeron que habría otra hora de retraso. Lo peor era que no nos decían por qué – hacía buen tiempo y no entendíamos la razón por el retraso. Resultó ser que tenía que cambiar algo en el avión, pero no nos dijeron hasta mucho más tarde. En un momento los pilotos y la tripulación salieron del avión y aprendí que los argentinos aplauden en grupo cuando están frustrados. Varias veces pensaba que iba a haber una revuelta en el aeropuerto. Otros pensaban lo mismo porque llamaron a unas guardias que se paraban al lado de los trabajadores de la aerolínea. Por fin a la medianoche empezamos a abordar. Yo estaba en el puente cuando los pilotos y la tripulación me pasaron para subir a bordo también, pero no avancé mucho más cuando nos pararon y no nos dejaron abordar, pero todavía no decían por qué. Hacía muchísimo calor en el puente sin aire acondicionado y estaba sudando. Poco a poco la gente se sentaba y algunos tenían muy mal aspecto. Pensaba que alguien se iba a desmayar. Después de media hora allí, los pilotos y la tripulación salieron otra vez, negando contestar preguntas. La muchedumbre estaba muy agitada y escuché muchos gritos cuando salieron. Sacaron a todos que estábamos en el avión y el puente y por fin nos dijeron qué estaba pasando. Parece que el piloto principal había cambiado de idea varias veces, pero por fin decidió que estaba muy cansado y no quería conducir el avión. Estaban buscando otro piloto, pero ya era la una de la madrugada y sería difícil encontrar uno. No me sorprendió cuando nos dijeron a la 1:20 que no podían conseguir un piloto y que el vuelo no saldría hasta las 10:30. No había habitaciones en los hoteles cerca del aeropuerto y nos iban a dar almohadas para dormir en el aeropuerto. Más gritos, clamores y aplauso amargado siguieron el anuncio, mientras una sublevación brotaba. Yo decidí que sería mejor cambiar mi vuelo por el de la noche siguiente y volver a casa para evitar la revolución. El pobre Douglas se levantó de la cama para ir a buscarme de nuevo después de sólo 45 minutos de dormir y mandé un texto a mi anfitriona de Argentina para decirle que llegaría con un día de retraso.

Luckily, the Saturday night flight left without a hitch – because Douglas had told me that he did not care what happened to me, he was not returning to the airport until, Monday, July 11. I was relieved not to have to call him back as we boarded on time. At first it seemed that I would have the entire row to myself as the middle seat was unoccupied and the girl in the aisle seat was told that there were seats available near her parents, but being a typical teenager, she did not want to sit near her family. Despite her immobility, I had a pleasant trip, sleeping for most of the eleven-hour flight. Before I knew it, we were landing in Buenos Aires, and I had crossed the equator for my first trip to the southern hemisphere.

Afortunadamente, el vuelo de la noche de sábado salió sin ningún problema porque Douglas me había dicho que no importaba que pasara que no iba a volver al aeropuerto hasta el lunes 11 de julio. Yo estaba feliz de no tener que llamarle cuando abordamos a tiempo. Al principio parecía que iba a tener muchísimo espacio porque el asiento del medio estaba desocupado y le dijeron a la muchacha del asiento del pasillo que podía ir a sentarse con su familia. Siendo una joven típica, ella decidió que no quería estar con sus padres. A pesar de eso, la pasé bien, durmiendo por casi todo el vuelo de once horas. Cuando menos pensé, estábamos aterrizando en Buenos Aires, y había cruzado el ecuador por mi primer viaje al hemisferio del sur.

Landing in Buenos Aires

It did not take long to have my passport stamped, but I waited as people arrived, found their luggage and left the baggage claim in waves without spotting my suitcase. Normally, I never check a bag, but Douglas convinced me that I should take one this time, since my small suitcase was packed to the gills, and he was certain that I would want to buy things in Argentina. I was beginning to doubt the wisdom of my choice and certain that the suitcase had been lost due to the change in flights. I had been told when I changed the flight that I would need to return in the morning to pick it up. However, there was no way that I was going to make a three-hour round trip to JKF, just to get my bag that morning when I was going back there that evening. When I arrived in JFK baggage claim before my flight so that I could get my bag to re-check on the next flight, they told me that it had already been checked for me. I had no choice but to trust them – something that I was regretting as I looked around the empty baggage claim in Buenos Aires. It turned out that my suitcase was the very last bag to make an appearance on the conveyor belt. By then, the line to have your luggage checked was enormous, and I figured that I would have over an hour before I would leave the airport. Then, I noticed that there was another inspection line with very few people off to the side. I had no idea why no one was standing over there, but I figured that it would not hurt to try it. I decided that I could claim ignorance if anyone questioned me, but there was no need. I waltzed right past the entire line of people and was nodded through without any inspection or anything. I felt sorry for all of these people standing in line.

No tardé mucho en recibir la estampilla en mi pasaporte, pero esperaba mientras la otra gente llegaba, encontraba su equipaje y salía sin ver mi maleta. Normalmente solo viajo con equipaje de mano, pero Douglas me había convencido que sería bueno llevar una maleta más grande porque la que tenía estaba muy llena y yo iba a querer comprar cosas en Argentina. Arrepentía esa decisión y estaba segura de que mi maleta se había perdido en el cambio de vuelos. Me había dicho cuando cambié el vuelo que tenía que volver por la mañana para buscar mi equipaje, pero no quería hacer un viaje de tres horas de ida y vuelta al aeropuerto por la mañana sólo para volver esa misma noche. Cuando fui a recoger mi maleta esa noche para volver a facturarla, me había dicho que ya la habían puesto en el vuelo. Tenía que tener fe, pero la estaba perdiendo mientras esperaba en el aeropuerto de Buenos Aires y la maleta no aparecía. Fue la última en salir y por entonces la cola para salir estaba larguísima. Pensaba que iba a tardar una hora más antes de salir del aeropuerto cuando me di cuenta de que había otra fila al lado sin gente. No sabía por qué nadie estaba allí, pero decidí intentar salir por allí. Pasé sin problema y me sentía mal por toda la gente esperando en las otras filas.

Customs line in Buenos Aires

On the other side of the customs, my host Sofi, was waiting for me. She had sent me a couple of photos of herself that week so that I would be able to recognize her.

Al otro lado de la aduana, me esperaba Sofi, mi anfitriona. Ella me había mandado unas fotos para que la reconociera.

14192038_10155145225774838_692058036911621368_nSofi

 

We took a taxi to her apartment in the Belgrano neighborhood of Buenos Aires. She gave me a quick tour, and we ate lunch. I did not take pictures of her flat apartment until later, but I thought that this would be a good time to give you a tour as well. Here is the view when you walk in. I am in the living room looking into the dining room with the hall beyond that. The painting at the end of the hall was done by Sofi herself.

Tomamos un taxi a su apartamento en el vecindario de Belgrano en Buenos Aires. Ella me dio un tour rápido y almorzamos. No saqué fotos de su piso hasta más tarde, pero pensaba que esto sería buen momento para mostrártelo. Aquí está una foto entrando en el apartamento. Estoy en la sala, o living como se llama en Argentina, mirando el comedor y el pasillo. La pintura al fondo del pasillo la hizo Sofi.

Sofi's apartment

 

This is the view of the living room from the dining room. I really like the shelves that Sofi added around the room by the ceiling.

Aquí está la sala del otro lado. Me encantan la repisa que ello puso alrededor del cuarto cerca del techo.

Sofi's apartment

I spend a lot of time in the dining room, usually with a cat in my lap, which made me very happy. Sofi is a good cook and also a vegetarian, so we got along well. She allowed me to cook for her once as well.

Pasábamos mucho tiempo en el comedor, normalmente con un gato en el regazo, lo que me hacía muy feliz. Sofi es una buena cocinera y también es vegetariana, así que la llevábamos muy bien. Un día me dejó cocinar por ella también.

Sofi's apartment

Going down the hall the first door to the left is the bathroom and to the right is the kitchen. I forgot to take a picture of the bathroom, but here is the kitchen.

Caminando por el pasillo, el baño está a la izquierda, pero no tengo ninguna foto del baño. La cocina está a la derecha.

Sofi's apartment

At the end of hall, you can see in the first picture of the apartment, you can turn to the right. The first door on the left after you make that turn is Sofi’s bedroom. She has a wonderful balcony off of her room. I was jealous.

Al final del pasillo, se puede doblar a la derecha y la primera puerta a izquierda es la habitación de Sofi. Ella tiene un balcón en su cuarto y yo estaba celosa.

Sofi's apartment

The guest room, where I stayed, was straight ahead after making that right at the end of the hall to the right of her room. I thought that I would be lonely sleeping by myself, but as it turned out I was joined on several nights by two handsome males… those of the feline variety if you were worried that I was not faithful to Douglas. He was jealous but permitted this behavior.

Aquí está la habitación donde dormía yo. Pensaba que estaría sola durmiendo sin otros cuerpos en la cama, pero varias noches llegaron unos varones guapos para dormir conmigo… varones felinos si estaban preocupados por mi relación con mi esposo. Él estaba celoso, pero me permitía esto.

Sofi's apartmentSofi's apartment

Here I am on the couch with those beautiful boys and their sister, Tina.

Aquí estoy en el sofa con esos bellos y su hermana, Tina.

Sofi's apartment

Sandro was my friend right from the get go. He is a very special boy, with a lot of physical problems, but despite it all, he is a lover. Sandro loves to be petted so much that he often becomes over excited and has difficulty breathing. When this happens you have to stop petting him so that he can calm down and start breathing again. His back legs are deformed, and he has a restricted diet of raw chicken because cat food causes him to vomit. His difficulties notwithstanding, he would follow me around and ask for love the entire time I was there.

Sandro fue mi amigo del primer momento. Es un gatito muy especial, con muchos problemas físicos, pero a pesar de todo es muy cariños. Le encanta que le acaricie tanto que se emociona tanto que le es difícil respirar. Cuando pasa eso hay que dejar de acariciarle hasta que se calme y pueda respirar otra vez. Tiene las patas posteriores deformadas y una dieta restringida de pollo crudo porque la comida de gatos le hace vomitar. No obstante, me seguía por el piso y me pedía cariño todo el tiempo.

With a cat in my lap

Often when I was trying to work, Sandro would be on my lap, hindering my performance or laying on the table next to my notebook asking for scritchies. I really miss my pal.

Muchas veces mientras intentaba trabajar, Sandro se sentía en mis piernas y me lo impedía o se acostaba en la mesa al lado de mi cuaderno pidiendo mimos. Me hace muchísima falta.

Sandro the cat

Sandro’s brother and litter mate is Roy – the king. It took a few days for Roy to warm up to me, but once he did he was almost as good a friend as Sandro. Roy is healthy and handsome. He can also sometimes be a bully – chasing Sandro or Tina. I had a lot of fun with him when he was behaving himself.

El hermano de camada de Sandro es Roy – el rey. Roy tardó unos días en aceptarme, pero una vez que decidió ser mi amigo me trataba casi tan bien como Sandro. Roy es saludable y hermoso, pero también puede ser agresor con Sandro y Tina. Me divertía mucho con él cuando se portaba bien.

Cats

Tina is quite a character with a lingerie fetish. Every day when Sofi returns home, she is greeted by a trail of clothes leading down the hall to her underwear drawer.

Tina tiene mucha personalidad y un fetiche por la lencería. Cada día cuando Sofi vuelve a la casa hay ropa interior que cubre el pasillo.

Sofi's apartment

Tina did not allow me to give much more than a passing stroke until the last day I was in Argentina. I had just returned from a four-day visit to Mendoza, and I guess she had missed me, because she climbed into my lap as soon as I sat down. Later she joined Sandro, Roy and me on the couch where we got our last snuggle in before I left.

Tina no me dejaba darle más que una caricia pasajera hasta el último día de mi visita cuando volví de pasar cuatro días en Mendoza. Parecía que le hacía falta porque subió en mi regazo el minuto que me senté. Más tarde se unió conmigo, Sandro y Roy en el sofá.

Tina the cat

I am fortunate to have had such nice hosts and to be able to fulfill my kitty fix while away from my own fuzzies. Sofi accompanied me on many explorations of her home city, but we also spent several evenings relaxing in the apartment with the cats – drawing, talking and working. I had a wonderful time with the four of them and hope to go back soon.

Estoy afortunada de tener anfitrionas tan simpáticas y recibir mi cuota de cariño de gatos mientras estaba tan lejos de mis mascotas. Sofi me aconpañó en mis exploraciones de su ciudad, pero también pasamos unas tardes relajándonos en su apartamento con los gatos – dibujando, hablando y trabajando. La pasé muuuuyyyyy bien con los cuatro y espero poder visitarlos de nuevo pronto.

Sofi's apartmentSofi's apartment

Happy Travels!

¡Feliz viaje!

 

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About

I am a teacher, traveler, artist, writer, homemaker and a whole lot more. In January 2009, I bought the Cape of Dreams. It was the second house that I had ever owned, but it was the first that I bought by myself. I now live in the house with my husband Douglas, our dog Kahlua, and Crème de Menthe, the cat. Because, what life is complete without a little Kahlua and Cream? I love arts and crafts of all kinds, and I refinish furniture as well. We are slowly redoing our entire house. You can read about my projects on my blog www.CapeofDreams.com

6 Comments on “Sofi’s Apartment in Buenos Aires – El apartamento de Sofi

  1. “Sandro loves to be petted so much that he often becomes over excited and has difficulty breathing. When this happens you have to stop petting him so that he can calm down and start breathing again.” – i know i shouldn’t laugh, but that made me LOL!!! i <3 Sandro! what a sweet and special boy. Sounds like your trip was good, after the airport fiasco – that is NUTS. love sophie's apartment! are you going to be posting more about your trip?

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