All went smoothly on my flights home, with the exception of the chaos in Sydney airport. The queues were very long, people were grumpy, the bag handlers must have been having a slow morning. I had to push my way through the waiting throngs to get to the correct carousel. A gentleman stood to give me his seat on the already crowded bus to go to the domestic terminal. The last thing i wanted to do was sit down, but i graciously sat.
Now to put away stuff.
Monday, October 15, 2018
Sunday, October 14, 2018
Houston to LAX lounge
Thurday : Rothko Chapel - really interesting. Rothko designed this inter-faith -and- no-faith chapel to house a series of his very dark paintings which appear to be very very dark grey at first, but after a while you can see colours.
We drove and drove to a town in northern Arkansas, Batesville, for the night. Then on Friday drove to Fort Leonard Wood.
Wendy and I continued on to St Louis, another 2 1/2 hours in the teeming rain, but the car was quiet with no little people. We had dinner at an interesting Peruvian restaurant.
On Saturday morning we went to a museum of contemporary religious art , which was interesting and then wandered around a trendy area with quirky shops and big houses. Wendy dropped me at the airport and drove back to her home in FLW and I flew to Los Angeles for the night. I had deliberately booked a hotel at the airport with a shuttle bus. Parts of the pavement outside all the terminals at LAX are being renovated. It was chaotic. There were 3 lanes of buses - hotel shuttles, parking area shuttles and long distance buses - competing for limited curbside space, nobody seemed to know where to stand and sometimes buses went past because it was impossible for them to stop, alternatively they stopped in the traffic and held up the rest of the buses. Much horn honking.
I was looking forward to a leisurely breakfast but my peaceful reading was disturbed by a woman at a neighbouring table in a very grating high pitched voice berating her husband over many of his misdeeds. He never responded. She went on and on. I left.
It was vaguely less chaotic getting back to the lounge this afternoon.
We drove and drove to a town in northern Arkansas, Batesville, for the night. Then on Friday drove to Fort Leonard Wood.
Wendy and I continued on to St Louis, another 2 1/2 hours in the teeming rain, but the car was quiet with no little people. We had dinner at an interesting Peruvian restaurant.
On Saturday morning we went to a museum of contemporary religious art , which was interesting and then wandered around a trendy area with quirky shops and big houses. Wendy dropped me at the airport and drove back to her home in FLW and I flew to Los Angeles for the night. I had deliberately booked a hotel at the airport with a shuttle bus. Parts of the pavement outside all the terminals at LAX are being renovated. It was chaotic. There were 3 lanes of buses - hotel shuttles, parking area shuttles and long distance buses - competing for limited curbside space, nobody seemed to know where to stand and sometimes buses went past because it was impossible for them to stop, alternatively they stopped in the traffic and held up the rest of the buses. Much horn honking.
I was looking forward to a leisurely breakfast but my peaceful reading was disturbed by a woman at a neighbouring table in a very grating high pitched voice berating her husband over many of his misdeeds. He never responded. She went on and on. I left.
It was vaguely less chaotic getting back to the lounge this afternoon.
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Wednesday Sacramento to Houston
The network of roads on the outskirts of Dallas was nothing compared to those outside Houston. At one point I counted 10 lanes going in the same direction as us and at 1 point there were 4 layers of roads above us.
The NASA space space centre was very interesting. Lots of interesting displays .We went on a tour and were taken into a large building, walked along an enclosed walkway above where people were working. Saw the Orion being worked on, robots being developed. Lots of activities for kids of all ages.
Went to a place specializing in gulf seafood. Delicious
Tuesday Austin to Sacramento.
Drove to Sacramento.
Went to historical displays at Alamo.
Lunch with parents of friends of Wendy's from their Suva days.q
Raining so went to Texan museum of different cultures who have settled in Texas.
Mexican restaurant in colourful market area.
Went to a great performance of Wicked . Back story of Wizard of Oz.
Monday in Austin
Met friends of wendy's family at gardens. Walk. Then walk along river.
Lunch at Sushi place. As well as plates coming around ( all 1 price) you could order many different things from a menu on a screen above the table. The food was delivered very quickly to your table on a delivery rail above the lower sushi train. All used plates got automatically counted when you dropped them into a bin under the ordering screen.
Bakery for desert.
Hotel for rest
Went to an old interesting hotel for a drink with Wendy. Nice thai for dinner.
Lunch at Sushi place. As well as plates coming around ( all 1 price) you could order many different things from a menu on a screen above the table. The food was delivered very quickly to your table on a delivery rail above the lower sushi train. All used plates got automatically counted when you dropped them into a bin under the ordering screen.
Bakery for desert.
Hotel for rest
Went to an old interesting hotel for a drink with Wendy. Nice thai for dinner.
Monday, October 8, 2018
Austin on Sunday
We are staying in the downtown Austin area. Austin, the state capital, has a motto "keep Austin weird" . It has a reputation for its quirkiness, alternativeness, different design. Apparently taken over from San Fransisco. We walked to a huge bookshop called Book People. There was a large kids area where the kids were all amused. We saw lots of wall murals, street art, interesting buildings, not many people - it was Sunday. We later found out that there is a big music festival on at which Paul McCartney was appearing.
We walked back and then drove to a different part of Austin where there is a very popular Mexican cafe with a Sunday gospel band. The food was good. The band was far too loud for me , but the relaxed atmosphere was great to experience. Next was the State Capital building and a visitor's centre with an interesting display of the history of Texas. Next was an icecream shop. Delicious. Lachlan had left a bit earlier to go to an inland artificial surfing place and we drove to collect him.
Dinner was at a barbeque place. Delicious meat and interestig salads.
We walked back and then drove to a different part of Austin where there is a very popular Mexican cafe with a Sunday gospel band. The food was good. The band was far too loud for me , but the relaxed atmosphere was great to experience. Next was the State Capital building and a visitor's centre with an interesting display of the history of Texas. Next was an icecream shop. Delicious. Lachlan had left a bit earlier to go to an inland artificial surfing place and we drove to collect him.
Dinner was at a barbeque place. Delicious meat and interestig salads.
Sunday, October 7, 2018
FLW to Austin, Texas
On Friday, we drove SW through Missouri into Oklahoma and south to Durant for the night near the border withTexas.
Yeterday, saturday, we drove south almost through the centre of Dallas. 6 lanes of fast moving traffic in each direction with lanes merging, exiting, flying over and under. We stopped at the home of ex neighbours of Wendy's for a long lunch and arrived here in Austin in the early evening.
We had a delicious meal of southern fish dishes.
Yeterday, saturday, we drove south almost through the centre of Dallas. 6 lanes of fast moving traffic in each direction with lanes merging, exiting, flying over and under. We stopped at the home of ex neighbours of Wendy's for a long lunch and arrived here in Austin in the early evening.
We had a delicious meal of southern fish dishes.
Friday, October 5, 2018
Stasbourg to Fort Leonard Wood.
Years ago , on a trip from Canbrra to Venice , I recorded how much of th door-to-door time was spent in 3 different categories. Firstly in unavoidable queues, secondly waiting in situations where you could read a book ( eg once seated on a plane and waiting for take-off) ( and I struggle to read a book waiting in a queue, so those two categories are separate) and how much time was actually in the air. I was suprised at how small the proportion of time in the air was. I was thinking over the last few days that it would be interesting to do that again. I wonder how overnight stops would fit in.
From Strasbourg we caught a bus to Frankfurt airport, parted ways, I went to Chicago, overnight in hotel, plane to St Louis. Luckily this plane was a bit early arriving and I was able to catch an earlier (tiny) plane to FLW than the one I was booked on. Most of the flight was in thick fog. There was the pilot, co-pilot and 6 passengers, all pretending to be sardines. Both pilots were over 6ft and they did not look comfortable. We, the passengers (all except me were seasoned flyers into FLW) , were aware when we started to descend, but completely unaware, because of the fog, of how close the runway was until we saw a red light flashing, a loud warning sound , then felt the wheels thump onto the tarmac. I gather landing in those conditions is outside the rule book. I also gather from overheard conversations that the chance of me getting into FLW any later that day were very slim. I had been able to get in touch with Wendy from St Louis. I was very peased to see her waiting for me.
It was delightful seeing my 4 biggest grand daughters again.
Noel is safely home.
From Strasbourg we caught a bus to Frankfurt airport, parted ways, I went to Chicago, overnight in hotel, plane to St Louis. Luckily this plane was a bit early arriving and I was able to catch an earlier (tiny) plane to FLW than the one I was booked on. Most of the flight was in thick fog. There was the pilot, co-pilot and 6 passengers, all pretending to be sardines. Both pilots were over 6ft and they did not look comfortable. We, the passengers (all except me were seasoned flyers into FLW) , were aware when we started to descend, but completely unaware, because of the fog, of how close the runway was until we saw a red light flashing, a loud warning sound , then felt the wheels thump onto the tarmac. I gather landing in those conditions is outside the rule book. I also gather from overheard conversations that the chance of me getting into FLW any later that day were very slim. I had been able to get in touch with Wendy from St Louis. I was very peased to see her waiting for me.
It was delightful seeing my 4 biggest grand daughters again.
Noel is safely home.
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Last day in Strasbourg and a few extras
Today was another easy day. Admin stuff for onward (me ) and homeward ( Noel) travel took a birt of time.
We went to visit the Protestant church of St Pierre-le-Jeune. There have been 3 churches on this site and evidence of all 3 is visble. We walked in to be greeted by a very welcoming ( voluble) volunteer and immediately felt how old and comfortable the church was. There was lots of painted timber, frescoes (old, restored, newish) gothic vaults. There was a very ornate rood screen ( separting the choir from the nave ) with an organ on top, There was very peaceful cloister.
We enjoyed just sitting for a while thinking of all the past people who had worshipped there. It was an excellent church to end our time in Strasbourg with.
Some other things I have not mentioned over the past month :
In Normandy, Burgandy and Alsace we have been suprised at how muh corn is cultivated. By far the largest crop. Used for food for 2 and 4 legged beings and corn oil.
We have been very fortunate with the weather - only 1 rainy day in the whole month Mostly sunny and comfortable temperature.
People hae all been very helpful with my halting French and I have learnt a lot
On our way to Colmar, 4 police or army (we cannot now remember) but whatever they were, 2 had big pointy guns, asked us for our passports or identity cards. As per the Australian goveernment website, we told them our passports were securely locked up in our accomodation and I had my Aust drivers licence as photo id. . Not good enough now, according one. Errr, we thought. Needless to say, we are not in goal, but I need to find out more before I go to paris next year where I imagine security will be a bigger issue.
After a very enjoyable, interesting and rewardable time ( not to mention waistline increasing) , tomorrow Noel flies home and I go to Chicago, overnight, then St Louis, then Fort Leonard Wood for 1 night then a road trip to Texas with Wendy and co. Who knows when the next post will be.
We went to visit the Protestant church of St Pierre-le-Jeune. There have been 3 churches on this site and evidence of all 3 is visble. We walked in to be greeted by a very welcoming ( voluble) volunteer and immediately felt how old and comfortable the church was. There was lots of painted timber, frescoes (old, restored, newish) gothic vaults. There was a very ornate rood screen ( separting the choir from the nave ) with an organ on top, There was very peaceful cloister.
We enjoyed just sitting for a while thinking of all the past people who had worshipped there. It was an excellent church to end our time in Strasbourg with.
Some other things I have not mentioned over the past month :
In Normandy, Burgandy and Alsace we have been suprised at how muh corn is cultivated. By far the largest crop. Used for food for 2 and 4 legged beings and corn oil.
We have been very fortunate with the weather - only 1 rainy day in the whole month Mostly sunny and comfortable temperature.
People hae all been very helpful with my halting French and I have learnt a lot
On our way to Colmar, 4 police or army (we cannot now remember) but whatever they were, 2 had big pointy guns, asked us for our passports or identity cards. As per the Australian goveernment website, we told them our passports were securely locked up in our accomodation and I had my Aust drivers licence as photo id. . Not good enough now, according one. Errr, we thought. Needless to say, we are not in goal, but I need to find out more before I go to paris next year where I imagine security will be a bigger issue.
After a very enjoyable, interesting and rewardable time ( not to mention waistline increasing) , tomorrow Noel flies home and I go to Chicago, overnight, then St Louis, then Fort Leonard Wood for 1 night then a road trip to Texas with Wendy and co. Who knows when the next post will be.
Obernai
Yesterday we went by train south to Obernai, 30 minutes by a stop-at-all-station train. More pleasant countryside. Obernai is another pretty town , smaller hence few people than Colmar, with well kept half timbered houses, lots and lots of geraniums, had a more German than French feel to it. Another walled city, but with 2 walls, one inside the other . 12C.
There was a fine tour of a now defunct chapel with a 13th C belry. The last storey is 16C with a 60m gothic spire flanked by 4 openwork bartizans - new word for us - box-like structures that stick out from each corner. There is an old well, quite large with 6 buckets and 3 wheels, but it was so covered in flowers that getting a photo showing the 6 buckets was impossible.
In the evening we turned the TV on, the first time in 4 weeks. It took us a long time to find something we could vaguely understand. Many talk shows, a few reality ' team' shows with scantily clad young people prancing around and a show about life in a zoo, which we watched. We learnt of an animal we had not heard of - a jaguarundi mother had recently given birth to cubs and it was their first excursion out of the covered bunker into the exposed enclosure. Mum was having some troubles.
There was a fine tour of a now defunct chapel with a 13th C belry. The last storey is 16C with a 60m gothic spire flanked by 4 openwork bartizans - new word for us - box-like structures that stick out from each corner. There is an old well, quite large with 6 buckets and 3 wheels, but it was so covered in flowers that getting a photo showing the 6 buckets was impossible.
In the evening we turned the TV on, the first time in 4 weeks. It took us a long time to find something we could vaguely understand. Many talk shows, a few reality ' team' shows with scantily clad young people prancing around and a show about life in a zoo, which we watched. We learnt of an animal we had not heard of - a jaguarundi mother had recently given birth to cubs and it was their first excursion out of the covered bunker into the exposed enclosure. Mum was having some troubles.
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