Mon 13th – Wed 15th December 2010

With all the training, raising sponsorship, organising equipment and full time jobs we were both exhausted before we even started on Aconcagua!  However, we had anticipated this and consequently had allowed ourselves a few days rest in Mendoza, Argentina prior to meeting up with our climbing group.  We had both been fantasising about the long flights to Argentina as it would be time where we could just rest and maybe even read a little – time where we could no longer access e-mails and feel obliged to source sponsorship, no phone calls or pressures to promote Patch, so we would actually be-able to allow ourselves to just relax a little. 

Well, best laid plans and all that…to start with Steve had a bug and was feeling pretty rotten on the flights out.  And I knew, just knew that I was bound to catch this infection and it would probably develop just in time for the start of the trip!  And this would have been one of those occasions where I would love to have been proved wrong – but of course I was right and as time went on I could feel the bug developing.  However, I did my very best to will it away! 

 The two days of flights went fairly well.  We had chosen to fly with American Airlines – basically because they were the cheapest.  We thought that they would be the equivalent of British Airways for America.  However, considering the price; this was, in hindsight, pretty naive!  The planes were really quite old and looked a bit worn around the edges, so much for the American’s always doing it bigger and better!  Never mind, bit like a comfy old pair of slippers, I told myself, I’m sure that the service will make up for it.  And the service wasn’t too bad on the way out and the Harry Potter film kept us pacified! 

In order to reach our final destination, we had to fly from Manchester to Chicago; Chicago to Miami, Miami to Santiago, Santiago to Mendoza.  Miami Airport was a treat!  We had a short delay here and also needed to find out whether we had to collect and re-check in our baggage as none of the staff at American Airlines seemed to know what the process was.  It soon became clear that customers were not to be tolerated at Miami Airport and that they should be got rid of as quickly as possible by way of ignoring or simply sending them elsewhere.  We got the hint eventually and decided we were sure we didn’t have to collect our baggage on this occasion and that they would turn up with us in Argentina! 

We reached Mendoza on a beautiful sunny morning in the middle of the Argentinean summer.  Unfortunately our baggage had decided to stay in Chile for a while which was frustrating, but were we mildly surprised that it had even got that far!  Fortunately, we were greeted at the airport by a Spanish speaking representative of the company we were climbing with who was able to explain to the baggage desk that our bags had not arrived.  However, it was a shame that he didn’t speak any English whatsoever as we then could not understand any of the response from the airport and still had no idea what was happening with our luggage!  We felt slightly better that the airline was aware there was a problem, but not entirely convinced that it was being dealt with.  Nonetheless we were ushered out of the Airport by the Rep who insisted, ‘on bus, on bus now’.  He was a big bloke and pretty insistent, so we figured we would go with the flow and at some point our bags would turn up.  Hmm…

We’re not the type of travellers who turn up in a foreign country expecting everyone to speak English.  Quite the opposite.  We usually either have the basics already or try to learn some of the language before going abroad.  However, on this occasion we are ashamed to say we simply had not had the time to even think about learning a bit of Spanish and so were dependant on hoping that the Argentineans would understand our hand gestures and pointing!  It felt strange to realise that as soon as we arrived in the country we had a problem to sort out with no ability to communicate with the staff.  (Stevie’s drawing of missing baggage seemed to confuse them even more!)

We were also soon to learn that the pace in Argentina is very slow.  I phoned the climbing company to explain about our luggage and they were clearly baffled as to why this crazy British woman was so worried about a few bags, ‘you have 4 days until you climb, plenty of time! No worries’.  Ok, yes, but we have no clean clothes, toothbrush, anything until we get our bags – we both have a stinking chest infection and we were hoping to relax for a few days before starting the smelly clothes, no washing routine on the mountain.  A bit more fussing on my part and a parting of some dollars and the bags appeared at the apartment.  Phew!

By now, we were both feeling really worried about how ill we were feeling. My throat felt like someone was scraping it with a metal file whilst someone else pounds at my head with a hammer.  A hacking cough reveals that this stuff is now on my chest.  Just a walk to the local supermarket felt like we were climbing Everest.  Absolutely no idea how we’re going to find the energy to make it up Aconcagua.  We keep resting and keep hoping that in a few days we will feel better….