The Detroit airport was much nice than the last time I was there - not sure if it was the concourses I used, or a real change. The best surprise was the light and music show in the underground tunnel between concourses that you can see here. If there had been seats, I would have sat and relaxed for a while. A part of me is starting to get excited, but another part won't really believe its happening until I arrive.. .to 80 degree weather, ha, ha, ha. I'll just think about that when the long flight starts driving me crazy.
Here's the luggage I brought. My smallest yet. Figured if I could make it for a week in Kenya without any luggage, I could make it two weeks with just a small bag. My mom would need at least 8 suitcases. ..that's assuming i could even get her on a plane again. Speaking of Kenya, I thought my brother-in-law jinxed me. He said he hoped I wouldn't lose my luggage this time. When I got on the plane in LA , they told us there was an issue and would get back to us once they had a solution. that's how it stated in NYC when they lost my luggage. But this time everything was fine. Somebody dropped their cellphone and since it was turned on, they had to make sure it wasn't going to mess with the electrical systems. They take that turn of phones stuff seriously.
I left LA at 10pm on Dec 31, and arrived in Sydney on Jan 2, so I never had a 12:01 or a New Year's day. Does this mean it's still 2012 to me? Just a random thought...
The Delta international flight was great. Even in the cheap seats, I had plenty of leg and but room, lots of free entertainment options, decent food, and friendly flight attendants (three commercial is over now; wished I could say I got recompense for it ).
Here's the sunrise that greeted me to Australia. Okay, I saw it over the Atlantic, a couple hours of shoe, but close enough. It was gorgeous, a great way to get the day.
I got K9'ed in Sydney. They don't like people bringing any kind of food into the country. I'm used to fruit and nuts, but they mean ANYTHING. I brought protein bars and candy. So rather than take me through a full luggage search, they had a group of us put our luggage down, and a K9 dog went through sniffing and digging when he found something suspicious. It was cool. I asked the passport lady what he was searching for, and she said food. I wanted to ask more questions, but figured I better just leave since I had passed. I guess the dog doesn't like my tootsie rolls any more than Kathy B.
I decided to take the subway to My hotel. It's a could miles outside the city. Rather than taking a taxi, I took the subway. It was cheaper and a great way to get acclimated to a new city . Okay, I'm really just cheap.
It took me a little time to get used to their subway and get to my hotel. Did find one problem with purchasing subway tickets - they wouldn't take $50's (which is what the ATM gave me) and they won't take a credit card without a PIN. So I had to wait in line at the ticket both so I could sign. I don't get why the U.S. is the only country not to use PINs instead if signatures. Then I got on the train that has some stations the same, then splits off. By the time I realized it, I had to go back 2 stations and him up with the correct train. Met a nice ex-Pilippino on the train back. He told me I have an accent - I pronounce my "r"s; I guess Aussies don't. You know, my sister Michele had the same problem as a kid - that's why she called my older sister Ne-ne...
Anyway, I'm settled now and off to see the city. Will likely write again tonight.
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