I guess you have to watch the video.
The thought of watching the semi-finals of the Argentine Open in Palermo, The Cathedral of Polo, just a 10 minute taxi ride from downtown, made my mind not want to work in a logical manner. We had walked the whole block the day before and while Campo Argentina de Polo made sense to me with the huge grandstands on the side where the sun would be to your back, and since we had seats in the Dorrego grandstands next to Dorrego Ave., I understood where our seats would be. Behind the main grandstands, and perpendicular to them, was another field that looked like it could also play to some of the best polo in the world. But on the map, it went by the name of Campo Hipico Militar, and all around it was – well, it was the military. I guess maybe I thought that the two should be mutually exclusive. It didn’t work that way, but I didn’t figure it out till later. I guess I thought that both games would be on the same main field – field #1. We walked around the whole complex, and saw some players warming up on #2, but just didn’t put it together. As two o’clock got closer, we started walking to our assigned grandstand and waited. And we waited a little longer. …and longer. By 2:00, we had seen 2 strings of ponies come to the corner of the field, and that was it! No players, no umps, no fans – nothing! I think I just figured it out – back to field #2. The first chukker was already over, the score was 1-0, and there was a delay of some kind, which we never figured out. We would have asked somebody - if they could understand us. It looked like general admission bleacher seating, so we took a seat. Bleacher seats for a 35 goal team vs. a 30 goal team?! Is this heaven? To paraphrase Kevin Costner in Field of Dreams – “NO – it’s Buenos Aires”. By the end of 6 chukkers, the score was tied. The second game was set to start at 4:00 and that’s in 10 minutes. People are walking away from a tied game with 2 periods yet to play, and I have to follow. We have no idea what security is like, and our seats are on the other side of the field. We arrive in plenty of time and are shown our seats, where we wait – and wait some more – and some more. Our transfer to the airport is scheduled to meet us at 6:30, and here we are at 4:30, and the players are just now meeting at the center field. At this point I’m thinking we have another 15 minutes worth of player introductions, national anthem (which is supposed to be long), and recognition of former players and VIP’s. All of sudden, they toss in ball and play begins – just like that! I’m thinking this must be Christmas because here I am watching a 39 goal team vs. 33 goals. Exciting, fast, spectacular, and clearly lopsided. At the half the score was 13-5, and that’s the only thing that could console me as we forced ourselves from our seats, and found a taxi to head back to reality.
Next time I’ll know. Sure – the flights are expensive, but this can be done for a week-end to week-end if you want to watch the best there is. All we have to do is brush up on our Spanish. Maybe we shouldn’t get rid of that Rosetta Stone, huh?
So it’s over. Transfer to the airport, check your bags, and show your passport. Get rid of your pesos, show your passport. To the gates – show your boarding pass and your passport. Scan your carryon luggage, show your passport. This is all the easy stuff! It got worse when we arrived in Dallas! It took all of the 1hr & 45min that we had between flights to go through customs. It’s enough to make you want to not fly internationally any more.
Saturday we’re in 85 degrees watching the best polo in the world. Two days later, it’s mid 20’s with snow. This sucks! I’m off to buy some lottery tickets. Hope you enjoyed our trip. I know we did!!!!
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