Even with the blindfold, the movie was so bright on the bulkhead screen that I couldn't get to sleep; I don't think I slept at all. Breakfast was served around 5:00 . It was really bad. The food on Aerolineas Argentinas has really gone downhill. It used to be a source of pride.

We landed around 7:30 . We were greeted by a beautiful woman in a sexy Santa Claus outfit. Guto started believing in Santa again. The line through customs was incredibly long and slow. It took an hour to get through it. Everyone's bags arrived except for those who started off with no bags. Dave, Amanda, Amanda, and I left the others sprawled on the floor in the terminal out side of the Manuel Tienda Leon bus desk while we went on a long fruitless quest to get something done about the lost baggage. We finally found a helpful guy at the Aerolineas lost baggage desk who said he would do what he could.

Everyone was relieved to finally get on the Tienda Leon bus and head for the city. Traffic was really heavy, as always, on Callao and Paraguay as we headed to the 8° de Octubre Hotel. at Paraguay 1420. The hotel people were friendly and helpful. The rooms were simple but clean. After an hour we walked 7 blocks, crossing 9° de Julio, to a marvelous lunch at La Estancia on La Valle. As always, the students started to fall in love with Argentina as soon as they tasted the food. I had a steak and a chorizo with salad and fries, capped by flan con dulce de leche.

After lunch, I went to an internet café and emailed Joan, Edna, and Angel appraising them of the baggage fiasco. Edna answered immediately. We then scooted back to the hotel and took a 2 and a half hour city tour. It wasn't as good as others I've been on. We spent time at the Plaza de Mayo and La Boca but did not have time to visit La Recoleta Cemetery.

We got back to the hotel at 6:15. Our dinner pick–up was scheduled for 8:00 and found our bus to La Ventana awaiting for us on time. We arrived and were greeted by the friendly staff who showed us to our tables. I sat right next to the stage. The food was great with excellent service. The show started after dinner. The tango dancers were superb. I was a little disappointed in the Andean band. They weren't as good as the one I saw last time I was there or the ones we saw in Bolivia last summer. The guys who really stole the show however, were two older men who were playing concertinas and singing. They were having a fight. Both were excellent musicians.

The show ended at midnight. We were all exhausted as the bus took us back to the hotel. After helping a couple of students with problems at the desk, I went to my room, brushed my teeth, and went to bed. I fell asleep immediately.