Envision leather seats. Big, leather seats. Comfortable leather seats. Wide leather seats. Picture said seats reclining back. Keep going. Further still. Yep, that’s almost to a lying position, isn’t it? Let’s prop that seat back up, a movie’s coming on. Very nice. This will make the time go by much faster.
After a few naps during the movies (hey, these seats are comfortable, it’s hard not to fall asleep), it’s dinnertime. Another ham sandwich, I’m guessing? But wait, what’s this? That looks like a hot meal. No kidding? Lasagna, huh? And it’s…..good? Wow, it IS good.
What are they doing now? Is that wine that they’re walking around with?
Attendant: “Senor, vino tinto o blanco?” (Sir, Red or white wine?)
Me to Megan: “He’s kidding, right? We really get wine, too, for FREE?”
Imagine sipping that wine while eating a hot, tasty dinner. Pretty posh, right? You ain’t seen nothing, yet.
Visualize nibbling on that nice dinner. Your wine glass is nearly empty when seemingly on cue the attendant appears.
Attendant: “Senor, vino tinto o blanco?”
Refills? Seriously?
I could get used to this. Picture finishing that hot, yummy meal and nursing that second glass of red wine as the attendants come back by, clearing the remnants of dinner. A successful meal, but it’s far from over.
They come around again, this time with another plate.
“What’s that?” I ask. That looks like….
cake? All right, this is getting ridiculous. Dessert, too? Right on, I’ll take it. A cup of coffee to go with it? Absolutely.
With my belly full, my body and brain nice and relaxed from the few glasses of wine consumed, I begin to think about sleep. Suddenly I notice a bit of a ruckus amongst the crew. They seem to be coming back down the aisles with something.
“What is that?” I wonder as the sun is now down, making it difficult to discern what it is going on, but it looks like they’re carrying something. Are those bottles? What now?
Attendant: “Aguardiente o champana?”
Me to Megan: “Did he just ask me if I want whiskey or champagne?”
Megan: “Sure did.”
Me (emphatically): “Champana por favor!!”
After finishing yet another glass, the buzz has firmly kicked in. The lights dim, another movie comes on. It’s 10pm, time to fully recline that seat.
Me: “Hey babe, would you grab me that pillow and blanket? Thanks.”
I move around, get warm and snuggled, find that perfect spot, and drift off to sleep.
Such is life on a long bus journey in Argentina.
**This particular bus journey was from Puerto Iguazu to Buenos Aires and took about 18 hours. We decided to buck up and go with a nice company (Via Bariloche) and get full cama seats (fully reclinable). Be sure to check out the post The Lowdown on Argentine buses to get more information about traveling overland in Argentina.
Jesus… Seems like a pretty good ride with excellent service. For these long rides is good to buck up… cama seats are a gift from heaven when traveling overnight by bus.
Oh yeah, this ride was ridiculous. This was by far the nicest one we took, though most Argentine buses were really, really nice. And yes, cama seats are fantastic and so much nicer for overnight trips.
La dulce vida!!!
Indeed.
Brilliant. I love long distance coach travel too. The longest ever was 26 hours from Turkey's west coast to the east on the border with Iran. Not so much luxury like your Argentina bus and no wine either but comfortable enough. And none of the airport hassle of check in and security where you almost have to strip to your underwear. And…you show up 10 minutes before departure.
Agreed with overland travel. I love taking buses and trains for all the reasons you mentioned. Airports and flying just stress me out, whereas it's usually a nice, laid back journey by bus.
So happy to know Argentina has a Cruz del Sur equivalent! Mind sharing the cost of a ticket?
Tran, the cost for this journey was $105 for two of us, and it was about a 18-20 ride if I remember correctly. Check out my post “The Lowdown on Argentine bus travel” that has a better description of the way buses work in Argentina and other routes and costs. Unfortunately not all trips are like this one. Thanks for commenting!
Is that RT or one-way and was that a promotion? Thanks! Very helpful.