Junin Street, Corrientes City.
Hastening the Cab
My bus was scheduled to depart at 12.30am, and I arrived at the terminal with just on 1/2hr to spare. This was a reasonable time for a journey such as this. Almost to the moment, some of the Holland group appeared at the terminal too. Friends of Ruth in the base, also from Holland, five of them came over to visit her during their university holidays and were now heading north to see the famed Iguazu Falls.
The Problem
Although I was not travelling with them, as there were no seats left on their bus, we were both scheduled to leave at 12.30am. But there was a problem. The taxis that were organised to take them to the terminal never showed up, so one of the few people with a car offered to shuttle them all over. In the confusion, one of the team forgot his video camera. It was in a house nearby the base.
With 20 minutes left before the buses turned up, we called home to see if the second group had left. They had. We were now left with a choice… wait for the others to get to the terminal and hope there would be enough time to make a third return trip, or jump in a cab and pay for the privilege. Of course they also had the choice of leaving it there, but this did not appear to be a very popular choice.
The Solution
One of the group decided that he would go in a cab. Knowing how little Spanish they spoke, and figuring that perhaps I may be of some help in hastening the cab, I offered to go with him.
We climbed in the cab and asked the driver to head back to the base, aware that our time was short. I explained to the driver that our buses leave at 12.30 am so we needed to make it pretty quick. He drove at a reasonable speed so I assumed that my indications were understood.
The Drive
To pass the time, I chatted with the driver about small stuff. He had been driving night times from 7pm to 7am for the last five years, and the car he was driving now was only for one year. On our way he kindly pointed out the other car that he drove for three or so years. He also told us about his church and how even though it is more dangerous during the night, he had never had any problems in all of his five years of driving.
In turn I told him of the YWAM mission base that we were heading toward and about some of the things that we did there. I also told him about my mate Chris and how he was robbed by slashing with a knife. As he heard this particular story, he ended up paying so much attention to me that the car slowed to less than walking pace. We were quickly running out of time.
A Misunderstanding
Our slow speed never really changed after the story, and in an effort to hasten things along a little, I asked him what time it was. He happily told me that it was 1am. Greatly alarmed, I responded that it couldn’t be since our buses left at 12.30am. He checked again and laughed. It was only 12.20am.
Alarmed, I told him how we were now in a state of incredible haste as we still had not reached the house with the camera and had to make it back in time for the buses. The man swalled hard and asked me if we were actually travelling on the bus at 12.30am. When I confirmed that this was the case, he apologised profusely, explaining that he understood that we had just seen off some friends that were taking the bus.
What a Change
On hearing this, our slow pace suddenly became lightning speed. Within a moment we were racing through the streets with houses whizzing past us faster than we could focus. The bumps and holes in these earthen lanes only served to accentuate the speed of our ride.
It took very little time to reach the house, where we waited patiently for what seemed like ages for the residents to open the door. Fortunately they had the camera in hand, and we both raced back to the cab and jumped in with actions that looked more at home in a pit-stop change over than our urban settings.
The Return
Our driver, rather than turning around, simply backed up at high speed to reach the main avenue and took off again at lightning speed. It was certainly the fastest ride I have ever been privileged to enjoy over these rough roads. Around buses and squeezing past cars, we finally made it back to our destination just on 12.30am.
Triumphant, we wander back to our waiting group with the camera held high. We had made it, and what a ride it was too.
Prologue
As it turned out, both of our buses were delayed. Mine by 30 minutes, while the others had to wait at least another 50 minutes before their ride came along.
There is a little story behind that too, where I cockily sauntered over to my bus, emphasising to Ruth that I was leaving now while she still had 50 minutes to wait, only to discover that it was not my bus at all and had to return to the group with my tail between my legs. Lesson learned. Sorry Ruth.
Lone Cyclist
The Politics of Business
Well, I have just finished with a phone call that ends a four week search for a DVD movie of “The Italian Job” that was not a fake. My search was unsuccessful. It ended tonight with the guy telling me that this particular movie is not available in any part of Argentina.
It didn’t start here, but actually began with a search of the city for a place that would sell me something genuine. You see, there are lots of places here that are more than happy to sell you a copy of a movie. To buy something genuine is very difficult, probably because the cost is between three and ten times more than a fake.
In our neighborhood we have just started to see DVDs available for rent. All of them are fakes. Most downloaded by Internet I would guess. Some are filmed in the cinema and have people walking across the screen, while others are missing big chunks from the middle of the movie. It is all that is available here.
So after walking all over the city, searching for a place that actually sold DVDs and not just copies, I finally found a great little rental shop with a good collection of genuine movies for sale. It was a little out of the way, but since it had the first decent collection of real movies, I figured we had found the right place.
I guess it was the right place in most senses of the word. They did eventually find out that my ordered DVD was not available in Argentina. But it was the process that really amazed me.
When I first spoke with the guy, he told me that he would have it within a couple of days. I went away content that at last, after searching through this city of Corrientes, I had found a reliable place. But when those few days had passed and I found myself back at the shop, there was no DVD.
“No problems,” I was told, “it will arrive tomorrow. We don’t know why it didn’t arrive in the box today.” Well, a couple of days passed by before I was able to return. Full of confidence that they would have my DVD, I journeyed the 40minute bus trip into town to pick it up. After my first attempt, when I found the shop to be shut, I turned up and asked for my DVD. It was nowhere to be found.
Somewhat amazed, after searching through each of the six or so possible locations they may have put something like that, I was told that they did not have it. Well, that had become obvious by then. So I asked them how long it would be before I actually did get it.
They told me, again full of confidence, that they would know for sure by the Thursday coming. That was only several days away, but I was growing wary now. I gave them my phone number and asked them to call me with information. They never did. I called them on the Thursday and was told that they knew nothing and to call again that night (shops here open in the morning and evening and close during the afternoon).
That night I called again, and was told that they could not find my DVD in any part of Corrientes. It was now almost two weeks since I had first asked them to order it for me. It seemed that this was the end of the road for them. They offered me no other alternative, and spoke as though they had completed their obligation to me. I was not so content.
After some pushing, they eventually agreed to look a little further afield for my DVD. Three more times I called them to find out how things were progressing. Three more times they told me that they could not get it from such-and-such a place or that they simply still did not know. Each time I asked them where else they may be able to get it. So three more times I was told yet again that if I called back in a few days they would know when they could get my DVD. This was not to be so.
My final call was tonight. The guy once again told me that he did not know when they would get my DVD, and that it had not yet arrived. He was about to give me another time to call back, but suddenly told me to wait a moment. Then I heard the first piece of accurate information since starting this game. There was no such a movie on DVD available in Argentina.
I thanked the guy for this information and explained to him that I was very disappointed with their level of service. That it took this long to find out such basic information, that I never received a phone call during the entire four weeks even though they had my number, and that I had to basically push them to find out this much.
The guy agreed with me that it was bad business to have treated a customer in this way. He also explained that he was able to give me such accurate information because the Regional Representative that distributes all DVD movies in Northern Argentina just happened to walk in during my call.
Then he told me that there was a possibility that this movie may be available in August, so if I would like to call back in just two weeks they may know more……..
No thanks.
Travel Again
Hi, just a quick note to let you know that I am about to embark on a weekend journey to Paraguay via Brazil.
Sounds exotic and far, but the reality is that I travel through Argentina for 6 or 7 hours and then stay at a hostel there (Puerto Iguazu). From there it is a 40minute journey through Brazil until I get to the Bridge of Friendship which I walk over to get to Paraguay, and the famous Ciudad del Este. Center of many things that, well…, that are not very nice. But also the centre of really good electronics prices. So while I am there, there was one or two things that I was thinking would be really great to have… ah, you cannot deny a man a big-toys shopping experience. They are lots of fun.
So that is the story. I will be back on Tuesday morning if not before. If anything interesting happens, you will find out about it via the faithful blog on my website. So if you are the praying kind, please send up some prayers for me.
Oh, and just a quick update for everyone that is now starting to think that South America is getting safe (well it is really, but only in some places such as Argentina), here is some quick excerpts from my mate Chris who is travelling north at the moment. I am sure he won’t mind a few extra prayers heading his way:
- La Paz, Peru (18 July): I didn’t see any explosions or signs of them, but the locals said it was happening. I did see a huge military presence around town…
- La Paz, Peru (19 July): I lost my camera!!! DOH. I had it out of my bag on the bus to Puno and was asleep when we arrived, so half asleep I grabed my bag and jacket and got off… we rang ahead to Cusco …and she has it and will meet me at the air port in Lima 10am tomorrow. (20 July): …my camera didn’t turn up, I waited at the airport for 5 hours…rang all the numbers I had and talked to the bloke I spoke to, who told me he had it, said he hasn’t seen it. [no camera ever turned up].
- Riobamba, Equador (today, 30 July): …while I was in the market, it was packed, 2 or 3 guys had a go to get my wallet but I pushed up against an old lady with my leg. But the second time they got it. They slashed my pants with a knife and came really close to my leg, it’s cut all the way through, 2 layers. So that makes this the most expensive trip I’ve been on, with the camera and all… I’m still going on the train in the morning but I’m really on a budget now…
So that’s about it for now.
Sunrise Shadows
Moving In At Long Last
After much debating about the merits of getting one or not, and especially with the expectation that I may leave within 6 months, I finally bit the bullet and bought myself a decent wardrobe. Lehman and I were both in desperate need of somewhere to put our stuff, and this has provided us with the perfect solution.
At first we both wanted something very cheap, but after three weeks of trying to get a set of shelves built, we decided to look around at what was available. For the price we wanted, it was impossible to find anything worthwhile. Most of the stuff we saw was like a doll’s house wardrobe that had been enlarged. All of it was very crude and basic.
Instead of giving up or settling for something like that, we decided to extend our view. The next option was to get something more realistic… something made of real wood.
A shop just down the road provided exactly what we needed. Some quick drawings to explain the design we wanted, some deposit money, and we were committed. New wardrobes were coming.
Now we have them. Almost expected, they arrived just under a week after the promised delivery time, but it was worth the wait. These things are made of solid timber, and are so heavy that two strong guys where struggling to carry them to our room.
With all of our stuff sorted out and stuck inside them, we now have a totally clean and neat room – a complete contrast to our roommates – and easy access to it all too. I am just so very very happy now. The addition of this one little item has made life so much more comfortable, and I feel that for the first time since arriving in Corrientes I have actually “moved in”. How awesome. I have a home. 🙂
Family Travel
Young Miqueas
Bus 106, Bus 111
Two bus lines, running in opposite directions, every ten to twenty minutes each day. There is always a bus to catch.