I am now sitting in the lobby of the Etoile Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The plane landed almost exactly one hour later than the scheduled time. Getting through Argentine Immigration and Customs was no problem. I was actually a little concerned about clearing customs because you are supposed to make a Customs Declaration if you are carrying a cell phone. Well, I was carrying two and I declared them both. I thought that they were going to make me pay duty on them but that was not the case. Getting my luggage was also a breeze. By the time I had walked to the belt on which they were placing my flight?s bags one of my two checked pieces was already on the belt, the other arrived shortly thereafter. BTW, getting your luggage comes between Immigration and Customs, much as it does at all the international airports I have traveled through. But new travelers might not know so I mention it. So, why am I sitting in the lobby of the hotel? Am I girl watching? Am I having a meal? No, my room isn?t ready yet. I didn?t put an exclamation point at the end of that last sentence because it wasn?t totally unexpected that my room would be available on my arrival. UWPhoto had warned me that when the Etoile is full that guests that arrive in the morning usually have to wait a while. I had hoped that I would be able to get into a room quickly as I had a business conference call to attend. My backup plan was to get a pre-paid SIM and make the call using that. I asked the front desk clerks where I might find one. They pointed me in the direction of a nearby mini-mart. Upon checking with the mini-mart I was informed that they didn?t have such items. I wandered around a bit more checking various convenience type stores. No one had pre-paid SIM cards. I hurried back to the hotel where I told the front desk staff that I was unable to locate a pre-paid SIM card. They offered to let me use the phone at the front desk but I informed them that my call would be close to an hour. I asked them if the business center had a line that I could use to have someone call me. The front desk staff had a short conversation with the business center and informed me that it would be all of ARS40 (plus 21% tax) to use the business center for one hour. As things turned out, I got a page from work telling me that the meeting had been canceled.

I stopped writing as UWphoto showed up. We had a brief discussion while waiting for GodFather, who didn?t show at the appointed time. UWphoto and I headed off to Café Orleans. We saw some decent looking girls there but only one that was up to doable standards. I wasn?t interested in hooking up with a girl at that point though since I had yet to get into my room and take a shower after traveling for nearly 20 hours. After Café Orleans UWphoto showed me around the area. We went to a ?black market? cambio where he exchanged money making sure to get as many small bills as he could. Which he offered to share with me. We then walked the streets looking in shops and chatting about the economic, social and political climate in Argentina. Along the way tried very hard to locate a pre-paid SIM card to no avail. Finally, we decided to head back to Café Orleans as UWphoto was about keel over if he didn?t ?relax?. For my part I waited until he found a likely candidate or two and then booked for the Etoile to check into my room. We made plans to hook up later that evening in the lobby of the Etoile for dinner and the troll. On the way back to the hotel I made one last attempt at getting a pre-paid SIM card. I stopped into a big office of Personal Telecom, the roaming partner of my GSM cellular service provider. After a little searching for someone that could speak English I was finally told that there is no such thing as a pre-paid SIM card in Argentina. They only sell monthly billed subscription plans. I hail a taxi and ask him to take me to the Etoile. He doesn?t know where the Etoile Hotel is located. Luckily I have one of the hotel cards with me. I show it to him but he still seems a bit unsure about the exact location but at least he starts driving. In short order we arrive at a street near to the hotel. Instead of waiting for him to understand my directions in English I pay the fare and hoof it the block or so to the hotel. When I arrive my baggage is still sitting in the lobby and there is a new set of staffers working the desk. I inquire about my room and it?s ready now. I am pleasantly surprised by this room ? suite actually. UWphoto had told me that the Diplomatic Suites are big but I still wasn?t prepared for I got (see photos). This suite is almost as large as my apartment back in the USA. I unpack and take a much desired shower. I also catch a few winks before the phone rings. It?s UWphoto and GodFather, they are waiting for me downstairs. I grab my jacket, digital camera and money before heading down to meet them. The three of us trundle off to what was for me a delicious meal. Argentine steak is all that it is made out to be. During dinner I become the luckiest man in the world. GodFather offers to setup my escort dates for me. I provide him with the cell phone that is included with the Diplomatic Suite and 1, 2, 3 BANG! All three of my top escort choices answer and are available in the time frames that I desire. Furthermore they are all ?reasonably? priced. I have to thank GodFather for both his Spanish skills and his negotiating skills on this one. We then discuss plans for the night. We are going to hit the Recoleta area clubs and if they are dead then head over to the Downtown clubs. And we do just that. I don?t remember the order but in Recoleta we visited Solid Gold, PlayWomen for You, and Sodoma. All of there places were disappointing. I did see very many girls in any of them and only rarely one that I would have done. I think the others felt that same way and we headed off to the downtown clubs. The first one we ducked into was Hooks. This place was a bit more lively though not significantly so. However, as luck would have it a petite and mildly cute lass latched onto me. Actually, I think she was entertaining the 4 of us but I happen to be closet to where she sat at our table ? as she was sitting in my lap at least part of the time. This girl was a riot and made the night. It was very helpful to have the Spanish skills of GodFather and UWphoto to help with the communication in both directions. After a while it was suggested that I take the girl who had become attached to my lap and the others would continue on the hunt. I waivered, not wanting to get bagged myself as there were other places to hunt. And quite honestly, though this girl was cute she was not OUTSTANDING; girls of her looks rating are a dime a dozen in Thailand or the Philippines. UWphoto and GodFather both advised me that I would be a fool and kicking myself later if I didn?t take this one now as she probably wouldn?t be there IF I came back later. They told me to stay and have another drink with the girl while they checked the other two clubs on the street. They hadn?t steered me wrong yet so I took their advice and bought the young thing another drink. It didn?t take long after UWphoto and GodFather had departed to make the decision to take this girl back to the hotel with me. No problems bring her into the hotel, just a quick stop at the front desk to register her. I did notice that they didn?t take her ID as they sometimes do in Asia but only asked her to sign a registration slip. I also noticed that Julieta is not her real name. In the room I asked to take a few pictures but what followed can be described as nothing less than a full blown location shoot. Afterwards things were done that aren?t discussed in polite company.

"Waiting for Godfather who didn't show up on time"....Hmmmm. I was never scheduled to meet up with you two till later. I told UWPhoto that I booked an 11:30 AM appointment that would be ready for me by the time I got out of my shower. True to form, my girl was there waiting on me.

However, I did call UW's room and knocked on his door. He was also supposed to have had a 11:30 AM session too so I was thinking to myself that he didn't go through with it.

After my two hour session with Sandy, I went to the Etoile to see if you guys were there. The front desk who remembered me from my last trip said your room wasn't ready yet. They said that you left with Uwphoto.

I went and ate lunch on "restaurant row" on Junin Street. Typed up a quick update then met up with my #2 of the day.

It was good hooking up with you Latasian. I know you're disappointed with BA. I will admit the clubs sucked. I still had a great time. I think you could have hit the internet a little harder too and had luck.

I know what you're saying about short time vs. long time but I've generally not had any problems with chicas staying. In fact, it is usually me asking them to leave so I can get some sleep. In May, I did several toda la noches. None got up on their own and left. Most wanted to eat lunch next day, go shopping or just hang out. This trip was too short for such activities. I definitely think it's there. Sometimes maybe hit or miss.