Stranded travelers riot at Argentine airport

In most airports I’ve traveled through, when confronted with flight delays or rude ticket agents, passengers quietly express their concern with the situation. Sure, there are a usually few outcasts who raise their voice or stomp their feet to show their frustration. Some of us even shake our fists in the air, bravely vowing to blog to the world, Mr. Johanson, just how rude you are, and how ugly your vest.

But in Argentina, they riot

After learning of numerous flight cancellations, frustrated travelers at Ministro Pistarini International Airport (also known as Ezeiza Airport) near Buenos Aires turned their anger towards the ticket counter, “tossing computers in the air and shoving security guards,” according to an AP article. “Local television broadcasts showed passengers overrunning ticketing counters, throwing computers and wrestling with airport personnel, even as a spokesman for the airline attempted to explain the cause of delays.”

The delays were said to be caused by a labor dispute involving pilots and baggage handlers. Incidentally, these are the same baggage handlers who have been frequently accused by a local news station of stealing electronics out of luggage, according to Wikipedia. The unions, naturally, blamed the delays on overbooked flights.

Food and travel writer website

I think I just might hate Joe Ray.

It’s a professional hatred, of course, bred out of jealousy. That’s because Joe is a food and travel writer based in Paris. Wow. I can’t imagine a more perfect combination of careers in a more perfect location.

And yet, that’s what Joe does. He pens wonderful articles accompanied by fantastic photographs while soaking in all the gloriousness of Paris.

I bring Joe to your attention today because I recently spent some time browsing his website and reading a bevy of tantalizing articles such as, Tasting Welsh Tea in Argentina, A Sicilian gelato tour, Pigs’ ears, horse-sandwiches ‘n fritters: Italian street-food, and Whale carpaccio, reindeer filet: Greenland’s contemporary cuisine. Yum!

Joe does a marvelous job of combining a passion of travel with a love for local foods in a way that gnaws at my stomach and gets the travel bug biting. If you have a few moments, check out Joe’s website and travel with him around the world; you’ll soon be just as jealous as I am. And just as hungry.

One for the Road: Frommer’s Expands Guides for South America

As travel to South America continues to grow in popularity, so do the guidebooks! Earlier this year Frommer’s released new versions of guides that were formerly combined in one book. Frommer’s Argentina and Frommer’s Chile & Easter Island are two first edition guidebooks, that were previously packaged together.

Both books are organized by regions, and include a practical planning section and a collection of suggested itineraries. Several must-do experiences recommended by the team of authors: try the tango (of course!), raft into Iguazu Falls (just 90 minutes from Buenos Aires), snowboard in the Andes, trek along Chile’s “Southern Highway” and fly to isolated Easter Island. There’s loads more included in these two new releases, so be sure to check them out if these popular destinations are possibilities for your future travel plans.