Getting to Melbourne

The adventure begins in the Calgary airport... With the failed terrorist attempt on Christmas Day there are extra security measures in place for US bound flights and since I am flying through LA, I am only allowed one small carry on bag. Considering this was going to be an 18 hour flight in total, I jammed as much as I could into my laptop bag and had to check everything else.

I arrive at the airport 3 hours before take-off and am through security and customs in a half hour. Hmmm... that was easy. What to do now? I chat with a woman from Frankfurt now living in LA with her husband who is in the music business. He was stuck in Amsterdam for three days at Christmas. Our flight ends up arriving an hour late from Toronto due to weather and after they clean the plane we take off almost 2 hours late.

Ironically, the guy seated across the aisle from me is on the same flight to Melbourne. When the plane lands we jump off and run to the Qantas desk in the international wing at LAX. The plane has already departed and it's too late to get on the 2350h flight to Sydney. He tells us to head back to Air Canada and they'll take care of us. But our luggage will remain at the airport over night and be on the plane tomorrow for our 2305h flight to Melbourne... stuck in LA with no luggage.

Air Canada puts me up in the Westin LAX for 2 nights so I don't have to check out early and gives me vouchers for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I guess I can't complain too much... it is -22 in Calgary. The hotel is gorgeous with Starbucks coffee in the room and excellent guest services. They have a list of free "in case you forgot something" items so I ask for a curling iron, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, and curling iron. I purchase a pair of $18.99US Havianas from the guest shop (I find out they sell for $25AUD here so it's not too bad) and head to Manhattan beach for the day on the $3.00 shuttle.

My flight to MEL departs on time that night and I think someone must like me because I end up in premium economy with not one but TWO seats (a window and aisle). I've never flown international and it was a treat... it's true that you get what you pay for. The seats recline and have footrests, I am indulged with two fluffy pillows and sheep's wool blankets, one armrest contains a TV and the other a tray. We are given our comfort kits (an eye mask, toothbrush, and toothpaste), fed dinner (I had the poached mahi mahi in a spinach cream sauce with roasted potatoes, and baby peas, pineapple upside down cake, and a mini bottle of red wine), and put to bed. I sleep for 8 hours!

I awake around 4am Melbourne time, which would be 10am in Calgary the previous day. Between watching a couple new release movies and enjoying a spanish frittata for breakfast, the rest of the flight flies by (bad joke) and I am in Melbourne in a few more hours. Customs and security are a gong show with 2 flights from Asia landing at the same time as us but after an hour I hear my brother call my name and realize I have arrived. Now to get out of the clothes I've been wearing for three days and start enjoying my holiday.