BOTTOM LINE:
Returned car and were transported to the airport
Flight to Buenos Aires
NOTEWORTHY:
Happy 60th Birthday, Carol & Happy One Year Anniversary Les & LK
BACK STORY:
Today was a light day of packing for a flight and returning our rental car.
We checked out of the hotel at 10am having the porter store our luggage until our 2:00pm shuttle pick up for the airport.
We had filled up the car on Sunday so we headed directly for Hertz. When we had the flat tire, Bruce had called the office to inform them of our situation which was protocol.
Unfortunately things did not go well with our return. They basically told us that we had ruined the tire and rim and would have to pay for the replacement ($250 US) - period!
We were being accused of something that we felt we had not done. I drove under the speed limit on paved roads. On gravel roads, I drove very slowly, avoiding pot holes. Yet, here was a tire that looked bad, couldn't be reused and had a hole that could have been there when we rented it...a slow leak gone bad on bad roads.
They agreed to turn it over to corporate Hertz in Buenos Aires and we would be told before our flight what the outcome was. Bruce shot off an email to corporate appealing our case.
By the time we checked our luggage in and walked over to Hertz, the corporate office had made their decision. They had made an exception because there was inconclusive proof as to who or what caused the flat tire. They were not going to make us pay for the replacement of the tire and rim! Woo whoo!
Our flight was on time and two and one half hours later we were picked up by a driver and our guide Stella. They drove us one hour across the city to our hotel in the Polermo District.
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| typical traffic |
Although it was a countrywide holiday, traffic was heavy. There were demonstrations going on protesting the President and the high cost of goods and services for the poor.
The holiday was in remembrance of the uprising a number go years ago where some 40,000 men and boys disappeared...believed to have been executed and dumped in mass graves!
Our Hotel Mitico was one of the classiest boutique hotels I have had the pleasure of staying in. Everything has been well planned and tastefully decorated. Matisse at reception was warm, professional and helpful in guiding us through the city.
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| hotel library |
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| lounge area 1 |
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| lounge area 2 |
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| Our en suite room |
We headed out for a light late night dinner. Eating at 10:00 pm is just too late for us, but we found the restaurant to be crowded as locals dined in their usual manner. After our meal we walked around the neighborhood park. Although the neighborhood near our Hotel was described as upscale, we were appalled at the night streets being strewn with garbage, broken glass and graffiti. We were told that garbage had not been picked up that day because it was a holiday.
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