G'day Mates - We're Down under !!

Ok, sorry for the bad, cheesy, stereo type headline.

Any way, on with the story.

 

So here is a brief overview of the flight. First off, even if you take the direct flight, it will still take you around 26 hours to go from Calgary Canada to Sydney Australia. With this said, it was a very very long flight. I sure I still don't have all the feeling back in my bottom.

 

The trip started out with a trip to the airport to drop off our checked bags and see what we could do about getting exit or 

bulk-head seats. I recommend doing this as early as you can, because even thought we did get all the seats we wanted, we got the last seats and we were there about 6 hours before boarding. So get there as early as you can the day of departure. 

 

After a short wait at Calgary, we left for Vancouver. The trip was calm and regular. Almost like commuting to work every day kinda of regular. Departing the aircraft we were pleasantly surprised when greeted by one of our friends who was returning from a trip to Las Vegas. Jamie, Andrea, and I chatted for about 30min while Jamie waited for her flight to Calgary. It was at this time the realization that out flight to Sydney did not leave until midnight. YUK.

  Well, what else is there to do when you have to pass time but eat and drink lime margaritas. Yumm. We sat at the Milestones near our gate until they shut the place down around us. We figured it was a good time to leave when they turned the lights off. From there we wandered around a took some photos. 

 

To the left is an example of the art work that proliferates the Vancouver airport. There is art every where at this airport. Its quite pleasing, except for this piece. This is the centre of the food court, and it looks like some sort of hungry demon there to eat all the patrons. I don't get it.

 

The next part of the trip might be confused with a great day off. Getting as comfy as possible, watching several movies, having people server you food, clean up after you, all for about 17 hours straight. Except that is was crammed into a tiny room filled with 400 people you don't know, and the bathrooms are small and you have to wait for them. Oh ya, and the TV screens only 5" x 7". Not even Hi-Def. Otherwise great. That was pretty much the flight in a nut shell. Not exotic or exciting. 

  

Landing at Sydney was like something out of a dream. Descending from the heavens to a crystal clear, white cotton ball blanket over the world. It was like we had a private tour of candy land. Then as we descended through the cloud cover it broke to sweeping majestic view of the Australian Eastern cost line. It was at this time that it finally sunk in as to the magnitude of what we had done.

 

After landing we had a brief wait while we were fumigated for bugs. Then a fairly quick trip through security. Before we knew it we outside. We did it. WOW! 

 

Oh, by the way, DON'T take photos at the baggage pickup. The no camera signs are farther in the room, so far that you can't see them if you are at the back of the room. This "Illegal" photo is one the many will never get. Here you can see Andrea at the Sydney airport baggage claim just before getting our bags from the carousel. 

 

Well were here. Its about 20 degrees Celsius right now, humid, but it feels and smells great. Tomorrow is a big day out on the town. Should be interesting.

 

We miss everyone in Canada.

Will & Andrea