SYDNEY to LONDON – look out Europe here we come!

Thursday – after months of planning another extravaganza we are moving out of our comfort zone and heading to Europe.   The holiday now has a new name.  THE TRANS-EUROPE TRAIN TRAVELLING TRIO TIKI TOUR, or Europe by Rail for short.  Considering the amount of places we will be seeing it is worthy of a Tiki-Tour title.

So the journey begins – my friend Ann picks me up and we drive to her place.  I have one medium size wheelie bag, one back pack and a small shoulder bag.  Ann is astounded that I only have that amount of luggage for a month in Europe.  I work on the principle – if I don’t have it and I need it – I will buy it. 

The walk from Ann’s to Revesby Station is not far and it is a nice day so a bit of exercise to get me in the mood.  Unfortunately there are a lot of renovations being done at the station and we cannot find the entrance so we get more exercise than planned.  Doesn’t anyone know how to write a sign?  Obviously not.  Finally we find our way in, get our tickets to the Domestic Airport (because I am flying to Melbourne first to connect) and wait for the train.  Arriving at the Terminal everything is automated now.  I for one would rather check-in personally instead of pressing buttons on a bleeding machine.  We find a nice Qantas lady who tells us where the check-in counters are and we are on our way. 

They weigh my bag – 10.7kg – do you believe it?  Well, it’s true.  Plenty of space for my shopping sprees.  After that is done we find a coffee spot where we get coffee and raspberry muffins (you practically have to mortgage the house to pay for them).  Everything is so expensive – but if you want it you gotta pay.  At least the muffin was big enough for the two of us and it was delicious.

We then move over to the lounge area where I get all excited and think I see my plane.  It’s started already – the tourist twitches.  So – I take a photo.  The first of thousands with my new camera.  It is a Canon EOS 500D.  I opted for the one lens – a wide angle zoom so that I don’t have to keep on changing lenses all the time.

Oh dear – this is not my plane – it is further down the area.  But a plane is a plane is a plane.

Ann’s husband Len is going to join us before I fly out so after we loll around here for a while we decide to head to the bar where we get a glass of wine – NZ Oyster Bay Sem Blanc.  Very nice I must say  and we are soon enjoying ourselves.  Right on queue after we finish the wine Len arrives so it’s another round of drinks.

My first leg of the journey is Sydney to Melbourne.  That’s what I get for using Frequent Flyers – all the direct route allowances were taken.   It is not long before it is time to board so I say goodbye to my friends and disappear down the corridor.  My seat is 43K, the plane is not full and I have an empty seat beside me – that’s a good start – and there are also spare seats in front of me. 

We are running a little late but we use this time to have the usual safety drill and then once in the air it is time for food.  How much do we need on a trip to Melbourne?  Campfire biscuits (cheese biscuits with outback spices) and juice – which is nice.  The sun is setting and of course the usual photos out the window. 

Arriving in Melbourne I now have to find T2 and of course I went the wrong way and have to double back.  This is a lot easier when you look at these terminals on the web.  To actually try and find something in person is most confusing.  Not to worry it used up some of the three hours layover.  No Duty Free buying – but I did get some jelly babies.  Departing Gate 4 so another long walk is in order. The seats in the lounge are hard and uncomfortable and finally it is time to board.  I am in the first lot of people called to board – Seat 60A.  There seems to be a full plane but I have a spare seat beside me, that is until the final minutes and then a really, really large girl squeezes in between us.  She also has dreadful body odour so that is not going to be a good thing.  One good thing, my seat is positioned so that I have 2 windows.

The Qantas bag of goodies that we used to get has been reduced to a plastic pencil case type item with eye shades and a small toothbrush and toothpaste.  Makes we wonder about the Snack on Q but I will wait and see.  The menus are given out for Supper on the leg to Hong Kong and it does sound good.  Bottles of water are also given out – so that means no Snack on Q.  Water comes in handy after the bit of a thirst I have from the wine this arvo.  We are told that fresh fruit is available if we require.

Time to investigate the small screen and find out what is advertised.  Glenn A Baker’s Reeling in the Years should be the 1950’s but unfortunately I get blasted by 1996!  Not a good start.  Nevermind the food is coming so that should add some comfort.  

And now what you have all been waiting for – the first of the flight details:  Heading toward Broken Hill with a ground speed of 907kmh.  Distance to Hong Kong 7043km; altitude 9753m.  Outside air temperature a chilly -52 degrees celsius.  Time to Hong Kong 8 hours.

Supper arrives – Sun Blushed Tomato and Parmesan Salad with a Balsamic Dressing and I choose the Classic Roast Chicken with Home Made Gravy and Baked Vegetables.  Dessert is Tiramisu with Coffee. Not bad – but the veggies were steamed not roasted.

Will wake up in Hong Kong and it will be tomorrow morning.

Highlight of the day: drinks with Ann and Len at Sydney Domestic