 |
|
|
However, one of the more frustrating things about my new life and living outside of “safe shores” has been my inability to share much of my feelings and first hand experiences with my family and former colleagues. I know what you’re thinking. What I mean is that sometimes, e-mails, letters and telephone calls just don’t cut it. It is very hard to describe a picture of flying over Iguazú, drinking mate (mah-tey) or looking up at the peaks of Tierra del Fuego unless you are actually there. Like others before me, I wanted to share some of my thoughts and memories of the world just outside our doorstep. I guess putting the experience into words is the next best thing. Read on. ¡Hasta Luego! As much as
I hoped my time in Argentina would go on indefinitely, the contract between
Air Atlanta and Southern Winds came to an end in early March 2004.
As I had described in the previous article, the crux of Air Atlanta’s business
is leasing aircrew, maintenance and insurance (ACMI) on a contractual basis
to other airlines that require extra capacity on a short or long-term basis.
In the Southern Winds case, the contract for flight crew had lasted about
20 months. Unfortunately for us, Southern Winds decided they no longer
required our services. Rather than renewing the contract as we had
hoped, Southern Winds decided to go it alone. As they say, all good
things must come to an end. So, in early March, Air Atlanta closed
the Buenos Aires flight crew base and relocated us; first to Curaçao
for 2 ½ months and then in May to England. Despite the changes,
Air Atlanta has signed a three year renewable contract to maintain and
support the Southern Winds fleet in Buenos Aires. Lucky for the maintenance
personnel, I say. We are all hoping that down the road we will be
presented with another opportunity to relocate to Argentina. Some
of us are even investigating the possibility of making a more permanent
move to this beautiful land in the next couple of years. Life is
full of opportunities and perhaps just perhaps, we will be given that chance.
Working with Air Atlanta, you begin to realize that change is normal and
thus anything is possible.
In the meantime, my colleagues and I have been assigned to various contracts with other airlines throughout the world. Siggi is working with Air Algerie; Stefan is training to fly the 747 and will likely go to Malaysia Airlines or maybe Lufthansa or Iberia. As for me, well I am now flying the 767-300 for Excel Airways based out of London, England. To say the last year-and-a-half working abroad has been deeply satisfying would be an understatement. Since the beginning of 2003, my adventure has taken me from Canada, to the south of the planet and back again. Twenty years in the airline industry and almost two years flying abroad have provided many incredible memories. When I decided to start writing about my adventures, I found out very quickly that putting those thoughts into words is easier said than done. Nonetheless, the first article was the result of many hours of reflection. I thought the follow-up would be easy. Not so. Over the last few weeks, I have found it very difficult to write about Argentina and my experience. I suppose it is like trying to describe a feeling of deep fulfillment. It is difficult to express those feelings in words. Despite that,
I have spent many hours looking through over a thousand photos. Many
happy and exciting memories are written into those photos. So, after
much deliberation, I have selected a few of my best photos and with that
a short anecdote about each one.
Photo 1: Just over two years ago, the Argentine government devalued the currency – the Argentine peso – and the economy went into a tailspin. Additionally, restrictions were imposed on the flow of currency out of Argentina. Previously, the currency had been pegged one-to-one against the US dollar. For some this brought, many years of wealth and prosperity, but it also created an artificial economy and an impression that the country was far richer than it actually was. The devaluation resulted in many losing their life savings. Anything that was left over was almost worthless. When I first arrived in Buenos Aires, I was astounded to see that the banks were boarded up with metal cladding, much like the buildings were under siege. On a regular basis, I witnessed demonstrations where people would stand and bang hammers, drums and any other instrument at their disposal against the metal cladding enveloping the banks. The noise was deafening. I can only imagine what the bank employees were feeling. At first I could not understand why this happened. However, after hearing the reality from many of my Argentine colleagues, you couldn’t help but be supportive. Years of government corruption and neglect had created the economic and social problems. Nowadays, a new government is in place and there is renewed sense of optimism within the country. There is hope for a better future. The scene depicted above is still a common sight throughout the city. Photo 2: Something that cannot be missed is a meal at a traditional asado or barbecue grill. Argentina is famous for the asado and over the years, they have perfected the art of grilling beef. This usually involves using only salt to prepare the beef and cooking the meat over hot coals. Once prepared, the meat is then spread-eagled on stakes or skewers over the open charcoal pit. Asados are very common with Argentine families and normally take place on weekends throughout the country. Occasionally on a departing flight from Buenos Aires, you could see the numerous plumes of smoke rising from the many backyard asados located throughout the Buenos Aires district. An asado is a true treat if you are ever party to an invitation. Don’t miss it. The photo above
was taken at one of several traditional parillas (steak houses) throughout
Buenos Aires.
Photo 3: This photo was taken on my final visit to Córdoba, along La Cañada, from the rooftop of the NH Panorama Hotel. From here, you can see across most of the city. The building across the Plaza de la Intendencia is the Palacio de Justicia. On this day, it after lunchtime and the temperature was around 35ºc, so not many people were out on the street. Perhaps, they were having an afternoon siesta. This was one of my last days in Argentina. Shortly before, we had received notice that Air Atlanta were closing the Buenos Aires pilot and flight attendant base. My last visit to Córdoba was sad, but the memories will remain with me for a lifetime. ¡Hasta Luego Córdoba! Photo 4: Oktoberfest in Villa General Belgrano, west of Córdoba Villa General Belgrano is a small little town located high in the Calamuchita Valley about 1 ½ hours from Córdoba. The town is reminiscent of a Swiss resort town. Villa General Belgrano is descended from the survivors of the German battleship Graf Spee, which sunk in the Rio de la Plata near Montevideo in World War II. The survivors were never repatriated to Germany after the war and decided to settled here. Every year
during the first two weekends of October, Villa General Belgrano hold their
version of the annual Oktoberfest or as it is known locally, the National
Beer Festival.
Photo 5: The lighthouse at the end of the world. This was one of many high points of an excursion down the Canal Beagle or Beagle Channel. The mountains of Tierra del Fuego and Chile can be seen in the background. On this particular day, it was early July, which is mid-winter in Argentina, but the temperature was a balmy 5ºc. Pretty nice for a boat trip up the channel. Photo 6:
Bahia
Lapataia in Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego is located literally at the
end of the continent. The end of la Ruta Nacional No. 3 (as it is called
in Argentina) or the end of the Pan-American Highway is located within
the park at this sign. The road is one of the longest continuous highways
in the world, broken only by the Darien Gap in Panama. The road stretches
all the way from Ushuaia, Argentina to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. From
this sign, it is 3,063 kilometers to Buenos Aires and 17,548 kilometers
to Alaska. Driving this highway is chronicled in the book Road Fever by
Tim Cahill.
Photo 7: One of the many orchids and flowers found throughout the northern jungle regions of Argentina and Iguazú. The jungle climate allows the growth of a diverse variety of plant species. This is just one of over 2000 identifiable plant species found within Parque Nacional Iguazú. Photo 8: Siggi, Steve, Paola, Stefan – Amigos Siempre Was this our final goodbye to Argentina?? The following is the first article that Steve wrote for the magazine:
To contact Steve Click Here
|
Escape
To The End Of The Earth ~ 