Teatro Colon Buenos Aires
14/10/11 21:11
Took the opportunity to visit the recently restored Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires. A world class building dating from when Argentina was amongst the richest of countries.
Opened in 1908, the theatre underwent a major 3 year restoration before reopening in 2010.
Italian and Belgian architects worked on the project.
English stone. Each piece laid by hand.
Italian marble.
Entrance hall.
Not Versailles.
From the gift shop.
Exterior detail.
Music for the birds.
The main horseshoe shaped hall was dark and photography prohibited. It looks like this.
Opened in 1908, the theatre underwent a major 3 year restoration before reopening in 2010.
Italian and Belgian architects worked on the project.
English stone. Each piece laid by hand.
Italian marble.
Entrance hall.
Not Versailles.
From the gift shop.
Exterior detail.
Music for the birds.
The main horseshoe shaped hall was dark and photography prohibited. It looks like this.
Back to Piriapolis
03/10/11 23:17
Early start this morning to catch a Cacciola ferry to Carmelo with a connecting coach to Montevideo.
A lovely day for travel. Sunny but not too hot. The trip to Carmelo takes about two and a half hours. Customs and immigration at Carmelo were, as usual, slow and more time was lost en route. In the event I missed my connecting coach to Piriapolis by 2 minutes.
No problem. Another service left an hour later. COPSA run chinese made Yutong coaches. Curious when Uruguay sits between Brazil and Argentina both of whom have high volume coach manufacturers.
All well in Piriapolis. With no adjacent boat I needed to borrow a dinghy to get on board.
A lovely day for travel. Sunny but not too hot. The trip to Carmelo takes about two and a half hours. Customs and immigration at Carmelo were, as usual, slow and more time was lost en route. In the event I missed my connecting coach to Piriapolis by 2 minutes.
No problem. Another service left an hour later. COPSA run chinese made Yutong coaches. Curious when Uruguay sits between Brazil and Argentina both of whom have high volume coach manufacturers.
All well in Piriapolis. With no adjacent boat I needed to borrow a dinghy to get on board.
Cable TV in BsAs, Episode 3
17/09/11 22:10
After a "no show" on thursday the apartment owner had a heated conversation with Cablevision who were adamant that cable guy #3 had called. He hadn't.
Another appointment was made for today between 13:00 and 17:00. I was there at 13:00 and cable guy #4 showed up.
The wretchedness of Cablevision's operation became more apparent. The cable guys are independent contractors without, it appears, too much support from Cablevision. Cable guy #4 had an old rucksack with a broken zip. It was held closed with cable ties which he cut to open his rucksack. His toolbox was falling apart.
Our cable run was diabolical. In the end a new section of cable was inserted and simply dangled down 14 stories. In the middle of all this cable guy #5 showed up at 14:15. Some confusion about appointments.
Cable run. Most buildings in the area are like this. Without control the cable/telephone/electricity/satellite companies do pretty much as they like.
No planning control = mess.
Finally, at around 15:00, we had a functioning cable/internet service. I then had to sign four pages of assorted contracts with no copies provided for the owner who was paying for the service.
Another appointment was made for today between 13:00 and 17:00. I was there at 13:00 and cable guy #4 showed up.
The wretchedness of Cablevision's operation became more apparent. The cable guys are independent contractors without, it appears, too much support from Cablevision. Cable guy #4 had an old rucksack with a broken zip. It was held closed with cable ties which he cut to open his rucksack. His toolbox was falling apart.
Our cable run was diabolical. In the end a new section of cable was inserted and simply dangled down 14 stories. In the middle of all this cable guy #5 showed up at 14:15. Some confusion about appointments.
Cable run. Most buildings in the area are like this. Without control the cable/telephone/electricity/satellite companies do pretty much as they like.
No planning control = mess.
Finally, at around 15:00, we had a functioning cable/internet service. I then had to sign four pages of assorted contracts with no copies provided for the owner who was paying for the service.
Cable TV in BsAs, Episode 2
15/09/11 22:51
Episode two of our 'please can we have what we paid for" cable drama.
Our last instalment closed with cable guy number two saying that Cablevision would call us to to arrange an appointment. They didn't. Another long call yesterday produced an appointment between 13:00 and 17:00.
While waiting one ponders as to why this situation exists. While no expert on Argentine consumer matters it seems to me that a culture exists where the consumer is not particularly important and has no real recourse. What legislation there is does not appear to be enforced so the consumer is on his own.
Thirdly, there is a lack of competition.
At 16:00 there was no sign of cable guy number 3. 18:30, looks like a no show.
Our last instalment closed with cable guy number two saying that Cablevision would call us to to arrange an appointment. They didn't. Another long call yesterday produced an appointment between 13:00 and 17:00.
While waiting one ponders as to why this situation exists. While no expert on Argentine consumer matters it seems to me that a culture exists where the consumer is not particularly important and has no real recourse. What legislation there is does not appear to be enforced so the consumer is on his own.
Thirdly, there is a lack of competition.
At 16:00 there was no sign of cable guy number 3. 18:30, looks like a no show.
Cable TV in BsAs
12/09/11 13:37
In Buenos Aires getting a utility company to provided what one has paid for is often akin to pulling teeth.
An apartment owner had a problem with his cable tv/internet provider. The company, Cablevision, has an effective monopoly in many parts of Buenos Aires.
An appointment was made. I agreed to wait for the cable guy who would call between 13:00 and 17:00. No problem, he did. He fiddled around for a bit and announced that there was a problem. Whoopy doo! We knew that. His attitude was surly and he did not seem interested in a solution. He said he couldn't fix anything and that another cable guy would have to visit. Cablevision would call us, he said.
They didn't. Later in the afternoon a long call to Cablevision produced a promise that another cable guy would visit before 17:00. He didn't but eventually showed up at 18:30.
He made an effort to diagnose the problem. We went up to the roof. This is a fourteen story building with lots of apartments. Here is the Cablevision control box.
Cablevision have installed a complete dogs breakfast. It's not surprising we have a problem. Huge amounts of cable laid in an unsightly manner in the cheapest possible way. A satellite provider does the same thing. The roof is a mass of cables.
Multiple cable runs draped over the parapet all the way down to street level with absolutely no consideration for aesthetics or the integrity of the exterior walls.
Finally cable guy number two says that the cable run will have to be replaced. However, he does not have any cable and cannot do it. One had to smile. A cable guy with no cable. Another appointment would be required. Cablevision would call us.......
An apartment owner had a problem with his cable tv/internet provider. The company, Cablevision, has an effective monopoly in many parts of Buenos Aires.
An appointment was made. I agreed to wait for the cable guy who would call between 13:00 and 17:00. No problem, he did. He fiddled around for a bit and announced that there was a problem. Whoopy doo! We knew that. His attitude was surly and he did not seem interested in a solution. He said he couldn't fix anything and that another cable guy would have to visit. Cablevision would call us, he said.
They didn't. Later in the afternoon a long call to Cablevision produced a promise that another cable guy would visit before 17:00. He didn't but eventually showed up at 18:30.
He made an effort to diagnose the problem. We went up to the roof. This is a fourteen story building with lots of apartments. Here is the Cablevision control box.
Cablevision have installed a complete dogs breakfast. It's not surprising we have a problem. Huge amounts of cable laid in an unsightly manner in the cheapest possible way. A satellite provider does the same thing. The roof is a mass of cables.
Multiple cable runs draped over the parapet all the way down to street level with absolutely no consideration for aesthetics or the integrity of the exterior walls.
Finally cable guy number two says that the cable run will have to be replaced. However, he does not have any cable and cannot do it. One had to smile. A cable guy with no cable. Another appointment would be required. Cablevision would call us.......
Quito to Buenos Aires
07/09/11 21:36
Our flight was very early. 07:10 departure. Checkin was very quick and we left on time.
Soon to be closed, Quito airport.
About to take off.
Quito from the air.
Andean vista.
Approaching Lima, Peru where we changed planes.
Atacama desert. Northern Chile.
Again, good on time flights with TACA. Immigration and customs were super fast at BsAs but there was a bit of a wait for our baggage.
Soon to be closed, Quito airport.
About to take off.
Quito from the air.
Andean vista.
Approaching Lima, Peru where we changed planes.
Atacama desert. Northern Chile.
Again, good on time flights with TACA. Immigration and customs were super fast at BsAs but there was a bit of a wait for our baggage.
Jethro Tull
18/05/11 22:16
Rio de la Plata HASH Day 1
09/04/11 21:58
Buenos Aires to Porto Alegre
23/02/11 23:37
It was a slightly hairy start this morning. Heavy rain and slow traffic delayed my arrival at Aeroparque but I made it in time.
Waiting in the departure lounge my Pluna flight had still not been called with 10 minutes to go. The board merely said "contact agent". At Pluna's checkin desk I was told I should have checked in an hour previously despite having checked in on-line and having only hand baggage. Hmm.
There followed a mad dash upstairs through security and immigration and on to the tarmac shuttle where we waited for about 15 minutes. Once on board there was a further delay of about 25 minutes before takeoff.
Arriving at Montevideo we were advised that passengers for Porto Alegre could remain on board as our aircraft would be doing Montevideo/Porto Alegre. Nice.
Pluna's Bombardier jets are very quiet and a pleasure to travel on. Arriving on time at Porto Alegre I quickly passed though immigration and customs.
On the approach I noticed a station quite close to the airport. There is a free shuttle bus to this station and the train fare into Porto Alegre is less the R$3.
Back on board all was well with the batteries in a good state of charge.
Waiting in the departure lounge my Pluna flight had still not been called with 10 minutes to go. The board merely said "contact agent". At Pluna's checkin desk I was told I should have checked in an hour previously despite having checked in on-line and having only hand baggage. Hmm.
There followed a mad dash upstairs through security and immigration and on to the tarmac shuttle where we waited for about 15 minutes. Once on board there was a further delay of about 25 minutes before takeoff.
Arriving at Montevideo we were advised that passengers for Porto Alegre could remain on board as our aircraft would be doing Montevideo/Porto Alegre. Nice.
Pluna's Bombardier jets are very quiet and a pleasure to travel on. Arriving on time at Porto Alegre I quickly passed though immigration and customs.
On the approach I noticed a station quite close to the airport. There is a free shuttle bus to this station and the train fare into Porto Alegre is less the R$3.
Back on board all was well with the batteries in a good state of charge.
Buenos Aires to Rio Grande
10/01/11 22:54
Cacciola ferry from Tigre to Carmelo, Uruguay and then on by coach to Montevideo.
Crowded Hidrografia moorings in Carmelo.
Carmelo lifeboat.
Aging tug and barge.
Very, very long queue for customs and immigration at Carmelo.
Arriving at Tres Cruces coach terminal in Montevideo. Fire damage from last year is currently under repair.
Our EGA coach service into Brazil is full. Passports are retained at checkin and will be returned tomorrow morning. This thoughful approach means passengers are not woken when crossing from Uruguay into Brazil.
CGA coach sparkling clean. Even the tyres are freshly blackened.
Comfortable interior with slightly lurid trim.
Fire damage at Tres Cruces.
Street scenes en route eastwards out of Montevideo.
Crowded Hidrografia moorings in Carmelo.
Carmelo lifeboat.
Aging tug and barge.
Very, very long queue for customs and immigration at Carmelo.
Arriving at Tres Cruces coach terminal in Montevideo. Fire damage from last year is currently under repair.
Our EGA coach service into Brazil is full. Passports are retained at checkin and will be returned tomorrow morning. This thoughful approach means passengers are not woken when crossing from Uruguay into Brazil.
CGA coach sparkling clean. Even the tyres are freshly blackened.
Comfortable interior with slightly lurid trim.
Fire damage at Tres Cruces.
Street scenes en route eastwards out of Montevideo.
