SPRING 2025: NOT WHAT WE PLANNED

Have you ever heard the expression “we plan and God laughs”?  Well, all the planning the world wouldn’t have mattered in this instance as our trip was upended at the very beginning.  Our itinerary below — the result of a LOT of planning.

American Airlines informed me of Brazil’s new policy (as of April 10) that Americans, Canadians, and Australians are required to have a visa for entry.  Our departure date for Sao Paolo was April 18.  Countless countries allow for visas to be issued on the spot upon arrival at the airport.  Not so with Brazil.

I promptly applied, paying $80 for each of us.  A few days later, I was notified that the photos submitted were rejected.  Why?  No teeth may be visible (as in a smile).  One cannot make this stuff up.  So I promptly submitted new photos (mugshots) and waited.

At the time we departed, we still did not have the visas, but my thinking was we would simply show the “pending” report and be allowed to proceed.  That was a hard no at LAX.  Believe me, “let me speak to your supervisor” was useless.

So for the next 45 minutes, I was on the phone with American Airlines Platinum.  The solution at this point was to get us as close to Brazil as possible.  A ton of re-ticketing and mucho dinero later, we were on our way for an overnight in Miami and then a departure the following evening for Buenos Aires, arriving the morning of Easter Sunday.  We were advised to go to the Brazilian Consulate in Buenos Aires and straighten things out there.

No smooth sailing quite yet — first no lounge access (greatly needed) and complimentary with international business class seats.  But only if your flight is the same day, and not the next like ours.  Really???? So my lifetime 2 million miles with you folks don’t mean anything?  We gave up.  The hubby told the supervisor on the way out:  “One word.  Delta.”  And then the flight finally taxied, only to be turned around from the runway to fix a ventilation problem.  A lot of folks were spooked and left the plane.  Not us, and we finally landed in Miami around 10:30pm.

On the plus side, we toured Miami with a longtime friend and had a most wonderful meal at the iconic Joe’s Stone Crab in Miami Beach after a restful night in downtown Miami.  The plan going forward:  Bum around Buenos Aires (second trip there) and keep our fingers crossed the entire trip doesn’t need to be reworked.  We did get 5,000 AA miles for the delayed flight.

Above, lunch at Joe’s Stone Crab

Below, Icon of the Seas. The world’s largest cruise ship. I think it holds a million passengers. Or so it seems. Not for us.

Brazil, you just lost out on countless tourism dollars.  It has been more than a week since we applied and nothing.  Even showing up in person at the Brazilian Consulate in Buenos Aires was unfriendly and unhelpful.  Go online, fill out copious forms, pay $500 in person at a designated bank, and then maybe we’ll grant you an appointment and who knows when a visa.  As they say in espanol, “hasta la vista.”

So in addition to sightseeing and excellent food in Buenos Aires, I spent way too much time reorganizing this trip.   Below, the view of the La Boca area from our hotel.

Below, a fabulous dinner at El Mirasol de la Recova for traditional steak and an incredible Malbec.  Our new friends, Gustavo & Mara, introduced by our Miami friend!

Next stop:  Uruguay!