Arrival in Buenos Aires
Trip Start
Feb 13, 2009
1
2
18
Trip End
Mar 02, 2009
Buenos Aires, Capital Federal District, Argentina
Saturday, February 14, 2009
But things started going downhill from there.
When we finally emerged out of customs, there was a mass - a massive mass - of people waiting. At least 50 greeters held up signs, waiting for arrivals - but spread out among the crowd of private parties. We were early, but I thought our driver might have arrived already. So I plopped Kyla with the bags by a post and circulated among the crowds, staring at all the signs. But none had my name. So I stayed with the bags while Kyla searched. Still nothing. We took turns a few more times ... till it was almost an hour after our flight was supposed to arrive. I said, "Let's give up. I'll go to the bank, get some cash, then we'll take a cab into town, and I'll argue with the tour service later."
We went to the far end of the arrival hall, waited in line for the ATM, only to discover that the "Enter" key wasn't working. I had seen another bank (not Global Exchange) on the opposite end of the terminal, so decided to go there ... but left Kyla where she was, as it was right next to the car service stand.
Had a bit of a line at the ATM, but eventually was successful and had cash. Saw a sign with my name on it as I was walking back, so told them I would grab Kyla and our bags and be right back.
As I walked to where I had left her, I saw Kyla lying on the floor, surrounded by a crowd of people. I felt no panic, no sinking feeling - just rushed to her side, saw she was unconscious - eyes open but utterly unaware and unresponsive to questions - and thought, I need her glucagon. So I pulled out her kit - only to discover no glucagon, no glucose tablets. Now, the sinking feeling. I dug through her backpack - I had asked her, before we left home, "Where is you glucagon and tablets?" and she had said, "In the front pouch of my backpack..." but I hadn't verified. A couple from Australia, who had rushed to help Kyla, dug through Kyla's suitcase and found her extra supplies. Just as I pulled out the glucagon, the medics arrived. I tried to explain what happened and we got Kyla in a wheelchair. I managed to grab all our bags and coats - with help from many others, especially the Australians - and chased after Kyla and the medics. Had to pause briefly to let the driver know why I was about to disappear.
We got Kyla into bed and fed her glucose tablets - then, after 15 minutes, took her bg: 64 mg/dl. So, we decided to go for an infusion. I found the driver and offered to buy him a coffee while he waited; actually ended up buying him and his assistant lunch, but never mind, small price to pay to get them to wait for us.
After the infusion, Kyla's bg was 263 mg/dl - much better to be too high. She was discharged - at no cost to us at all - and we went with the driver to the car.
Kyla has no memories of the incident from sitting down on the bags to eat glucose after testing herself until becoming alert again on the hospital bed. So let us never speak of this incident again.
The drive through Buenos Aires suburbs was pleasant - limited traffic. One odd thing that reminded me of Vietnam: lots of lone apartment blocks, long and narrow, apart from their neighbors - like someone took their city lot and built upwards ... yet none of the neighbors did the same thing. They just look so precarious, like stacked Lego blocks.
Our hotel, Claridge's, is one block off Florida. We received our room, changed, then decided to go have lunch, as it was after 14.30h. Because we were so tired, we just went to the bar in the hotel for sandwiches and drinks. Sandwiches were quite good, actually.
Then upstairs (after a brief stop at the - free! - business centre). I bathed, then we both napped for a couple of hours. When I woke, refreshed, I glanced at Kyla - who was clearly still in deep sleep. So I let her sleep until after 22.30h - then we really needed to get some food in her. Ate again at the hotel bar - soup and cheese plate -soup was very tasty. Back upstairs after midnight (local time). Am feeling tired enough to sleep soon...
