Everyone got a 7:30 wake-up call because we had to be out of the rooms by 10:00. After a good breakfast we piled all of the gear in the lobby until the Green Machine was ready. Then, via bucket brigade, we loaded it up. Angel only wanted to take half to the airport, for some reason but the loaders overruled him and got everything and all but four of us on. The four of us took a cab. I collected $5 from all but three people to repay Angel for the Juices and Wine he supplied during the trip. His original estimate was that it would be $10/student but there were lots of beverages left over. I then paid the $4 airport tax for all but those 3 people.

Things went smoothly at check-in. I was surprised to learn we were flying directly to Ezeiza. I had never flown in there on a domestic flight. We took off on time. I fell asleep before we got to Río Grande and didn't awake until we reached the south coast of Buenos Aires Province .

Not having to change airports gave us time to search for Dave and Amanda's still lost luggage. We felt like a ping pong ball as American Airlines and Aerolineas Argentinas each told us we would have to see the other, blaming the other for the lost bags---it was really a US Airways problem but they don't operate in Argentina . I finally asked the Aerolineas people to accompany us to American. Lo and behold they found Dave's bags! Just in time for our return home! Amanda's had been sent to Río Gallegos on South Wind Airlines. The South Wind people were pleasant but we got nowhere trying to locate her bags.

Back at the Aerolineas terminal was the most chaotic mob scene I had seen since the La Paz bus terminal in August. There was a single, endless line of people waiting to get their boarding passes and check-in. Fortunately, ours had been issued in Ushuaia so we skirted the monster and went straight to migraciones.

Tim and I had a beer at the confiteria near our gate and then proceeded to the gate. We pulled away right on time and were soon airborne. I sat next to a Chilean kid ahead of all the students. I fell asleep right after dinner and did not awaken until breakfast. I missed the parade of students marching to the bathrooms to relieve their stomach distress.