To quote the Scottish National Bard, Robert Burns, “The best laid plans o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley.” Well, mine went agley this morning.
I had booked with Viator for a one-day trip to an estancia 100 kilometres from Buenos Aires. I was really looking forward to seeing the gauchos at work and eating yet another traditional Argentina asado. They had told me they didn’t pick up at private residences, so I was to meet the group in the lobby of a hotel five minutes from here at 9.40 am. I had breakfast first, and arrived there around 9.20 am, in lots of time. Nobody showed up at 9.40 am, but that didn’t surprise me because this is Argentina and nobody expects to be on time. But there were four Australian guys who told me they were also waiting for the Santa Susanna tour.
Just before 10 am a guide came in and ushered the four Australians and me out to a mini bus. But five minutes later it turned out this was not my tour. They were going to the same place, but I was on a different tour. They took me back to the hotel, and the guide called her agency to let the Viator people know I was with them and on my way back.
Well, I don’t know where communication broke down, but when I got there five minutes later — my tour had left! I came back home and emailed Viator, giving them the play-by-play. I have asked to take the tour next Tuesday on the same booking, so I’m waiting to see what they say. It was quite expensive and they have a good reputation, so I’m hoping it will get sorted. Stay tuned.
Jardin Japones
Because I had planned a day off work, I didn’t feel like changing my mind and buckling down, so I decided to go to the Japanese Garden. I had been there before and was looking forward to doing some sketching. I got on the right bus, and I asked the driver to let me know when we arrived, which he assured me he would do — and then promptly forgot! Fortunately I had a vague idea where it was, so at one point I walked down to the front of the bus, and as soon as the driver saw me he said, “Oh, you missed the stop. You’ll have to walk back to the last stop.” Very cavalier about the whole thing he was. Apparently another plan was ganging agley.
Anyway, I walked back — and back, and back. Because of this, I came at the garden the long way and it was a very hot day, so by the time I got there I was reduced to a greasy spot. Anyway, after that the day got better. I had a lovely three hours in the garden, did one not-too-terrible sketch and had a nice lunch in the air-conditioned restaurant.
This shot shows today’s date, so I guess they change it every day. Cool!
This is Mine
In the gift shop, for 10 pesos I bought some luck from the Oracle of Good Fortune. It was an elaborate business, but I ended up with this scroll — apparently it’s all good! I went outside and tied it onto the wires, which apparently invests it with all the good luck from the other scrolls already there. Let’s hope my good luck begins with a trip to the estancia next Tuesday!
This is a sketch I did yesterday of an old building near me. I got the outline and a bit of the detail done, but it was so hot I had to leave and go back again later in the day when it was cooler to finish it. Never had to do that before!