Sunday October 28, wait a minutes - what happened to Saturday?
Yes, it was a long trip. We opted to take the early flight to LAX, partly because we wanted to ensure we made the plan in case something happened, but also driven by the free flights through Southwest miles. After the three hour flight we sat around the unimpressive international terminal for seven hours waiting for the other 12 ambassadors to arrive, I am always amazed how responsible Zosia is when given a task. She worried all the time that somemight not make the connection.
Our plane was a new New Zealand Boing 777. Wow, what a nice plan with really well designed seats and good legroom. Each seat equipt with a high level screen, 50 movies, TV programs and music and games. Plenty of blankets and pillows, good food, free drinks. It was really nice flight that made the 12 hours pleasurable. Nice breakfast before we got off. Zosia and I really enjoyed the New Zealand movies - "Rest for the Wicked" was about a retired homicide detective going into a independent living facility to secretly bust his old arch enemy hit man. We both laughed out loud throughout the movie. I will have to catch the other one, "Scarfies", about college students in Dunedin (the first desitnation in NZ). Zosia said it was great and really gave a flavor of the city.
After landed in Aukland we opted to walk the 3/4 km to terminal two as the weather was great. It was longer than it seems for some, particlarly because we had to backtrack after missing our gate, but it was good break from sitting on out butts for so long. Back on a plane (1-1/2 hour) to Christchurch (NZ was clouded over), and then 1 hour in a prop plane to Dunedin. The flight were all good. But note this. They load plans like - "would all people in the back of the plane with window seats please board", then middle and isle seats. What an intelligent way to do it. Avoiding people blocking the asile. Too bad people ignore it. And they weigh your carry on if they suspect it weighs more than 7 kgs into the checked luggage if it does. The planes all have the logo - "Crazy about All Blacks" (their Rugby team) - yes, they are all crazy about the All Blacks - everyone. And their safety instructions are all joking about the concepts with cartoon figures illustrating the points like a Rastafarian even understands that there is no smoking on the plane.
So we land in Dunedin thinking we have to now catch a bus to the city 40 km away. No, Rona and Ian here there with very comfortable mini buses for a lovely drive to the welcoming party where we were met with our hosts. Wow, what a great travel experience even though it took about 32 hours to get here - start to finish.
What happened to Saturday? We crossed the international date line so we flipped the calendar a day. We flip back and get two Tuesdays on the return. And, Jet Lag - we are really only six or seven hours difference from Austin so I don't think that should be such and issue. We'll see.
Yes, it was a long trip. We opted to take the early flight to LAX, partly because we wanted to ensure we made the plan in case something happened, but also driven by the free flights through Southwest miles. After the three hour flight we sat around the unimpressive international terminal for seven hours waiting for the other 12 ambassadors to arrive, I am always amazed how responsible Zosia is when given a task. She worried all the time that somemight not make the connection.
Our plane was a new New Zealand Boing 777. Wow, what a nice plan with really well designed seats and good legroom. Each seat equipt with a high level screen, 50 movies, TV programs and music and games. Plenty of blankets and pillows, good food, free drinks. It was really nice flight that made the 12 hours pleasurable. Nice breakfast before we got off. Zosia and I really enjoyed the New Zealand movies - "Rest for the Wicked" was about a retired homicide detective going into a independent living facility to secretly bust his old arch enemy hit man. We both laughed out loud throughout the movie. I will have to catch the other one, "Scarfies", about college students in Dunedin (the first desitnation in NZ). Zosia said it was great and really gave a flavor of the city.
After landed in Aukland we opted to walk the 3/4 km to terminal two as the weather was great. It was longer than it seems for some, particlarly because we had to backtrack after missing our gate, but it was good break from sitting on out butts for so long. Back on a plane (1-1/2 hour) to Christchurch (NZ was clouded over), and then 1 hour in a prop plane to Dunedin. The flight were all good. But note this. They load plans like - "would all people in the back of the plane with window seats please board", then middle and isle seats. What an intelligent way to do it. Avoiding people blocking the asile. Too bad people ignore it. And they weigh your carry on if they suspect it weighs more than 7 kgs into the checked luggage if it does. The planes all have the logo - "Crazy about All Blacks" (their Rugby team) - yes, they are all crazy about the All Blacks - everyone. And their safety instructions are all joking about the concepts with cartoon figures illustrating the points like a Rastafarian even understands that there is no smoking on the plane.
So we land in Dunedin thinking we have to now catch a bus to the city 40 km away. No, Rona and Ian here there with very comfortable mini buses for a lovely drive to the welcoming party where we were met with our hosts. Wow, what a great travel experience even though it took about 32 hours to get here - start to finish.
What happened to Saturday? We crossed the international date line so we flipped the calendar a day. We flip back and get two Tuesdays on the return. And, Jet Lag - we are really only six or seven hours difference from Austin so I don't think that should be such and issue. We'll see.
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