Hello Friends & Family:
Well we arrived safe & sound at the Cairns airport, where unlike our airport experience TO Cairns, we suffered through a long line at check-in. I was afraid we'd miss our flight since in Australia they encourage you to arrive at the airport only ONE hour before your plane leaves. Honestly we barely made it.
Willie found time to grab a bite at Australia's version of Burger King - called Hungry Jack's -right before boarding. We settled into our seats and tuned into the free movie called "The End of the World" (or something like that), and I calmly pulled out my needlepoint to do a bit of stitching. Next thing I know, the flight attendent is hovering over me and says "You cannot have that on board. That needle and scissors are a hazard to the other passengers". I said "I have needlepointed for years and have never had it taken away. In fact, on the Quantas flight north, the flight attendents were admiring my canvas!" However, she was really insistent, and took my needlepoint away from me regardless, and told me that it would be waiting for me at the exit door when I departed!! I couldn't even put it in the overhead compartment!
Another passenger told me later that the same flight attendant took away her daughter's little mask that covered her eyes so she could sleep - this was a mask that the mom had bought her with little sequins on it. Apparently THAT was a hazard also - and she never got it back!
We checked into a different hotel in Sydney for our last night, just to get a different perspective. Tonight we are staying at the Intercontinental, a 35-story building right near the Opera House. Our room has a panoramic view of the Sydney Bridge & Harbor, and a "kinda-view" of the Opera House since a few other buildings are blocking it. The hotel is just a block away from all the action on the Harbour, and when I was reviewing my notes I see that it is half the price of the Park Hyatt. Something to consider if (or according to Willie) when we visit again, considering he made quite an impression with some of the local school kids in front of our hotel, promising them a bona-fide return to Sydney!!
We hung out in our room tonight watching this rather scary DVD Willie brought starring Sally Fields called "Not Without my Daughter", a true story about an American lady who marries an Iranian Doctor in Michigan, they have a little girl, and then 7 years later the husband convinces them to go for "just a 2 week visit to Iran to visit my family". Well I won't spoil the movie for you, but the Dad lied and the rest of the movie is how Sally Fields is trying to get back to Michigan!
Tomorrow we are taking a tour of the inside of the Opera House, and then if we have time I am going to try and drag Willie to a needlepoint shop in downtown Sydney that I found listed in the hotel's Shopping Brochure! This will probably be the last blog of this wonderful vacation... but then you never know - a breaking news may occur out of nowhere and I'll be sure to shoot that forward to you as it happens! Until then - I'll see you in the 'hood before you can say "G'day Mates"!
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