Soundtrack: AC/DC – Whole Lotta Rosie
5.45 am I was up, waiting on Briza road for Singani to pick me up and take me to the airport. He arrived right on time. Last time he was going to pick one up from the SaltyCrax backpackers he failed to show up, so I was a little nervous that the same thing would happen to me.
After arriving to Cape Town airport I went straight in to enjoy my coffee at the nearest cafe. I had 2 hours to kill before the check-in would open. The two hours was spend by walking from the cafe to the chill air outside to enjoy the last cigarettes before a 9 hours flight across the Atlantic.
When my Malaysian B747 taxied in on the gate, I am sure by telling you it was the most beautiful airliner in the airport. Here I was ready to get aboard, find my seat on K49, a window seat. How lucky could I be? I would find out 9 hours later, cramped in next to two Asian women talking like yeah you know, women can do! When it comes to the service onboard I was pretty amazed, 411 euros for a one 
way ticket and you get a descent meal, red wine and beers. Or maybe it is too long ago I did the last travel with a plane?
After what felt like days and several check up’s on my GPS only to find out that we were half way, we finally arrived in Buenos Aires after the most smooth landing in my life. (why do people clap after a good landing, don’t they expect to be alive after a flight?)
Arriving in Buenos Aires airport was a sunny experience and not much change in temperature from South Africa. Quickly through the immigration and customs (it’s a lie) and out to get a cigarette before finding out to get from the airport to Dakar Motos where I was going to stay in Buenos Aires. It is here that everything goes wrong! Getting money out of the ATM went easy than back home, assuming you have credit on your account. After trying my poor Spanish with one guy on the parking lot I decided to 
take a cab into the city. How difficult could it be. It isn’t difficult, just expensive! I went over to the counter (clerk), a guy quickly approached me and ask if I was in need of a cab, I told him that I needed to speak with the taxi company in the taxi office before, but before I noticed it, two guys were looking on my note in my hand with the address on. They quickly had a talk with the guy in the box and told me to take the second cab parked on the taxi lot. I went over to the taxi, got my things in on the rear seat (two bags) and got in. The taxi driver got in, and the guy I just had a talk with a the office got in next to the driver and off we went. After exiting the airport they pull in to the side, took out a map and tried to find out where on the map the address is. It all looked pretty good. We drove on again heading out on the freeway and towards the city while they told me about Buenos Aires. Cool guys I thought. Meanwhile the driver made sure to mention me the price into the center of Buenos Aires (190 Pesos. Quite steep I thought to myself). I was going to the north of the city, a 32 km ride and I didn’t give it another thought untill we arrive at the place. Arriving at the place is not quite right, we arrived two streets away, which means a little walk on foot, not a big deal. The meter was now showing astonishing 494 Pesos (95 Euros). It got my 700 Pesos from the ATM (134 Euros) out of my pocket. Handed over 500 Pesos to the driver. and was about to step out of the car when he said. “You just gave me 340 Pesos, the four of the notes are 10 Pesos bills”. I looked at the notes, he is right, they were 10 Pesos bills instead of 100 Pesos bills which I thought the machine had giving me. I then got all the money 
back. Now I had 340 of their currency instead of 700 Pesos. Not a good thing!. The cab driver then asked if I had any US Dollars on me? I know by now that he had taking me for a ride. But I am too late. Tired after the flight and didn’t take a good look on the notes before I handed them over to him. I ended up giving him 130 USD for a bloody 1 hour 32 km ride through town plus loosing 360 Pesos on his expensive trick. All in all that bloody ride ended up costing me a 863 Pesos (165 Euros). The most expensive taxi ride I have ever been on.
Luckily a smiling and welcoming Javier was opening the gate when I finally reach Dakar Motos on Calle Carlos Tejedor (lovely place, I already love it here). He invited me in, and over a nice cup of hot coffee I tell him my horror story of my first couple of hours in Argentina. He quickly phoned the taxi company in the airport after he heard the price of my ride, but without a positive result. It was a fake receipt they 
gave me. When Javier saw my temper back to normal and I arrived down on earth again he told me what a normal charge should have been, 120 Pesos to go from the airport to his place. I suddenly needed another cup of coffee!
After 3 months in Africa and not being tricked more than a couple of times, for now what seems like a small amount of money compared to today. I arrive in Argentina and after one hour they have already taken me for a serious ride. Well you can’t win every day and especially not after a 9 hours flight. This means no treat for mhoey for the next couple of weeks… fucking cab drivers, you can’t trust them… The last guy they tricked got his laptop stolen with all his pictures, now that is “Te puta madre” I have learned from it, but now I just want to focus on being here and stop whining about it. Tomorrow is near and I am going to call the shipping agency in the harbour. Dakar Motos is going to look nice with a red VFR parked next to my bed. Thanks to Gustavo Cieslar for telling about this awesome place ;oP I owe you a beer…
Within the next couple of days I will decide to head north or south depending on the temperatures. Look forward to see some countrymen from Argentina…
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