This is a continuation on a blog thread startd during a visit to Australia in late May, early June: our Monday in Melbourne had been reserved for a visit to the Museum accompanied by BJ and her lively little daughters, who skipped ahead across the green as soon as we left the cars. They had a PA Day so no school to go to. The large trees there were all wrapped with wide bands of metal sheathing meant to prevent damage from possums. That is one animal we did not ever see in our travels - not a single possum. Apparently, they are as plentiful as our urban racoons, and are protected, but do a fair amount of damage to the trees they nest in. Anyway, the girls were most anxious for us to see the bower birds. The museum is huge. Just inside the entrance is an glass enclosed atrium like a conservatory, filled with native trees, birds, and samples of pond life. We had a lot of fun looking for the bower birds, she blue and green, he a brilliant blue-black. When we found the bower, complete with salvaged bits of blue detritus, the littlest niece was delighted. It was the main event as far as she was concerned. We did take in a few dinosaurs and diaramas about prehistoric Australia but we kept the visit comfortably short. After a quick snack break, I went to the gift shop and bought post cards and a few gifts for our grandchildren back home. Other than a final lovely visit with BJ and family, the only other remarkable instance was finding a shop named Birdie Num Nums and taking a picture of us and the girls pointing to the sign. This for our youngest daughter, E, who at one time in her teens listed The Party among her favourite films and did a very good take on Peter Sellers reciting that famous line. On Tuesday morning we said good-bye and headed back to Canberra.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Wednesday, July 04, 2012
Flight from Paris Monday, July 2
Got up at 8 am in Paris = 2 am in Toronto.
Left hotel 10:30 am, arrived to chaos at checkin area, mayhem really.
Lovely Air France woman organized the boarding passes for all 25 of us.
But baggage check line was insane, vast humanity funneling through an archway.
Lines organized after that for police check of passport & boarding pass.
Ended up behind fool in a tasseled wool hat & pea jacket in the sweltering heat.
Watched 10-12 people pass through adjacent kiosks before he passed check.
Checked bag - "You can leave it locked because you do customs in the US."
On to the security check - I had to remove knee braces & replace them once in.
Find terminal M, up the escalator into a Duty Free the size of our local Mall.
No time to look but ages to get through - heading for M49 at end of terminal.
Checked time - 1:10 pm - desperate for a moving sidewalk.
There is one, very short, half way down the terminal.
Wish I had a luggage cart for my theft proof shoulder bag usually supported by carry-on suitcase I had to check due to bottle of wine & tiny mustards within.
Got to gate at 1:20 & was whisked into priority boarding by kind agent at sight of my knee braces, walking stick & sweaty face.
Depart time was 1:30 pm but sat on Tarmac for ~1.5 hours.
Left Charles de Gaulle at 3 pm.
***OMG! - Air France is the best! Roomy seats, great food, free wine & champagne!
Arrived Atlanta at 5:30 pm = 11:30 pm in Paris.
Flight = 8.5 hours flying.
Group pulled pompom-bedecked bags off carousel - mine & one other missing.
Delta baggage gentleman found us with printout showing that mine & hers were not put on the Air France plane in Paris.
Decided to skip night in Jacksonville since return flight was to be through Atlanta anyway & I had nothing fresh in shoulder bag to replace sweat-drenched clothes.
Went to Delta desk: $440 to change flight. Declared I would never fly Delta again.
Went to Delta baggage desk outside of security as directed - "No need, change is in system, make claim in Toronto."
Back through security to new gate - 2 train stops away - for Delta to Toronto.
Wonderful Delta gate agent reversed the charge on my flight change. Declared Delta back in my good books.
Strange little Spanish rat-like man chose to pour out his heart to me. (More later.)
Left Atlanta at 9:45 pm arrived Toronto Pearson 12 midnight.
Flight = 2.25 hours flying.
Total = ~11 hours in the air, 12-13 hours in a plane.
In airport at Delta baggage service re claim for lost suitcase ~1 hour.
Dear husband stayed up & waited at arrivals to drive me home.
In bed by 2 am Tuesday, July 3 = 24 hours after rising, with no actual sleep, only drowsed a bit on the planes.
24 hours after landing in Atlanta still no sign of suitcase & nothing on track site.
Talked to pleasant Avery at Delta Baggage Service who promised to find it & call.
It is now Wednesday, July 4 - Happy 4th of July to my American friends!
Two days of losing the fluid retained on flights. Fun. Still no suitcase. Le sigh.
But the only downside to amazing trip with fantastic women. Worth it. Priceless.
Left hotel 10:30 am, arrived to chaos at checkin area, mayhem really.
Lovely Air France woman organized the boarding passes for all 25 of us.
But baggage check line was insane, vast humanity funneling through an archway.
Lines organized after that for police check of passport & boarding pass.
Ended up behind fool in a tasseled wool hat & pea jacket in the sweltering heat.
Watched 10-12 people pass through adjacent kiosks before he passed check.
Checked bag - "You can leave it locked because you do customs in the US."
On to the security check - I had to remove knee braces & replace them once in.
Find terminal M, up the escalator into a Duty Free the size of our local Mall.
No time to look but ages to get through - heading for M49 at end of terminal.
Checked time - 1:10 pm - desperate for a moving sidewalk.
There is one, very short, half way down the terminal.
Wish I had a luggage cart for my theft proof shoulder bag usually supported by carry-on suitcase I had to check due to bottle of wine & tiny mustards within.
Got to gate at 1:20 & was whisked into priority boarding by kind agent at sight of my knee braces, walking stick & sweaty face.
Depart time was 1:30 pm but sat on Tarmac for ~1.5 hours.
Left Charles de Gaulle at 3 pm.
***OMG! - Air France is the best! Roomy seats, great food, free wine & champagne!
Arrived Atlanta at 5:30 pm = 11:30 pm in Paris.
Flight = 8.5 hours flying.
Group pulled pompom-bedecked bags off carousel - mine & one other missing.
Delta baggage gentleman found us with printout showing that mine & hers were not put on the Air France plane in Paris.
Decided to skip night in Jacksonville since return flight was to be through Atlanta anyway & I had nothing fresh in shoulder bag to replace sweat-drenched clothes.
Went to Delta desk: $440 to change flight. Declared I would never fly Delta again.
Went to Delta baggage desk outside of security as directed - "No need, change is in system, make claim in Toronto."
Back through security to new gate - 2 train stops away - for Delta to Toronto.
Wonderful Delta gate agent reversed the charge on my flight change. Declared Delta back in my good books.
Strange little Spanish rat-like man chose to pour out his heart to me. (More later.)
Left Atlanta at 9:45 pm arrived Toronto Pearson 12 midnight.
Flight = 2.25 hours flying.
Total = ~11 hours in the air, 12-13 hours in a plane.
In airport at Delta baggage service re claim for lost suitcase ~1 hour.
Dear husband stayed up & waited at arrivals to drive me home.
In bed by 2 am Tuesday, July 3 = 24 hours after rising, with no actual sleep, only drowsed a bit on the planes.
24 hours after landing in Atlanta still no sign of suitcase & nothing on track site.
Talked to pleasant Avery at Delta Baggage Service who promised to find it & call.
It is now Wednesday, July 4 - Happy 4th of July to my American friends!
Two days of losing the fluid retained on flights. Fun. Still no suitcase. Le sigh.
But the only downside to amazing trip with fantastic women. Worth it. Priceless.
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