Oh my goodness, how have I lived this long and never come down here?? Well yes, it is a bit of a trip, the subject for today, but starting tomorrow look for a stream of snapshots and micro-stories of just why this might be the sexiest place on Earth.
Homeopathic remedy which seems to have made a big difference. Picture of exhausted person taken before even getting on first plane. Four planes and 31 hours later, was getting a little ragged on only 3 hours of sleep, but really... Mr. Green and I were impressed.
Crossing the (continental) United States.
Seasoned traveler in pajamas and slippers at LAX. Mr. Green observed him 16 hours later as we descended into Sydney Airport, headed to the lavatory with a pair of regular pants over his arm.
This small passenger and a two year old sibling kept the rest of us on our toes from LA to Sydney. As Marie Christine reminded me: how lucky I was to not have to be responsible for an infant. Or two.
Ummm. Judgmental me in overdrive. The 30-something behind me was holding a number of gentlemen in thrall. #PleaseLowerYourVoices
The object of my judgement on the left after all the gentlemen had returned to their seats.
Arriving in Sydney shortly. A little tired.
Oh my gosh we loved the Australians at the airport! But on to Christchurch!
Landing in Christchurch. That blue shed and the shorter grey ones say: UNITED STATES ANTARTIC PROJECT. Ahem. We're getting to the bottom of the world.
Getting on a 50-seater headed to Dunedin with my EmilySpray.com bag over my shoulder.
Falling MADLY in love with these New Zealanders! A late 30's guy sitting next to a bombshell late 30's woman laughed together without a trace of lechery as he finished fumbling for his seatbelt: "I didn't mean to grab your ace." (They pronounce certain words a little differently... ass = ace and beverage = beeverage, etc.) Also, clobbering everyone who dared to have a shoulder in the aisle with my computer as I made my way to the very back of the plane, I finally apologized, laughing, and a chorus of "Weel survoive!" (something like that) rang out. They're relaxed, they seem to look at things with more acceptance (Mr. Green says I'm generalizing wildly) and I find them so very attractive. SEXY.
Casablanca moment, arriving in Dunedin.