http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/pauljeff/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from pauljeff en-us Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:06:15 +0000 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:06:15 +0000 Pacific Princess Amazon CruiseFriday March 13 2009Today we board the Pacific Princess the main reason for this vacation. We had arrived in Manaus on a TAM Airlines flight last night at 12.05am and caught a cab to the Novotel Hotel in Manaus.We had a buffet breakfast and there was a big choice of dishes on offer one of which was Piranha soup. Paul was glad he tasted it. It had a fishy flavor http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Amazonas/Manaus/blog-382572.html March 12 Thursday 2009 Buenos Aires Sao Paolo ManausTime to leave Argentina. We checked out a 11am and took a taxi to the Airport. We were flying British Airways and had used the online checkin yesterday so all we needed to do was drop our bags at the Club World desks. Our seats were 64AB on the Upper desk of this 747400. Clearing security was like the old days very easy and simple. H http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Amazonas/Manaus/blog-381415.html Buenos Aires Monday March 9 2009After showering we had a while to wait for our bags. We went for a walk to find camera batteries and following directions from the Concierge we ended up at Florida a pedestrian avenue with many small stallholders set up in the middle selling jewellery art scarves as well as artisans making wire artworks among other things. We kept walking just browsing and http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Argentina/Buenos-Aires/Buenos-Aires/blog-380849.html Sydney Buenos Aries Monday March 9After packing the night before our chauffeured car arrived at 7.20am. It was a Silver Statesman not Black as Jeffrey had requested but very nice nevertheless. There was some light rain but the driver loaded the bags and then we bid farewell to the dogs and our adventure beganYesterday we had been contacted by a Qantas First Host who explained what services http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/blog-380613.html Sunday March 9thWe went to Starbucks for a coffee and tea and had a quick walk around before catching a tram to the Ferry Terminal. We had decided earlier to catch a ferry to Sausalito for lunch. The trip over was great going past Alcatraz and seeing seals in the bay. At Sausalito we walked around the shops and many tourists hired bicycles and were walking around in the sun. Most of the resta http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Francisco/Pacifica/blog-254780.html Fort Lauderdale United StatesFriday March 7th 2008Our Taxi took us to the Sheraton Yankee Clipper which is around 2km south of the main area of Fort Lauderdale beach. As it was so early our room was not ready so we asked for directions to a deli. We could not it though so walking along the road a bus pulled up and we jumped on. Paul asked where we could go to eat and we ended up at Denny http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Florida/Fort-Lauderdale/blog-254778.html Next morning we had an early wake up call after some repacking we were on our way back to Hong Kong airport only a 10minute drive away. We checked in at the Cathay pacific First class check in counters and then went to lsquoThe Pierrsquo one of the 2 lounges Cathay Pacific offers. Here we had a great sit down breakfast in the restaurant and then spent time catching up on Emails and just r http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Lantau-Island/blog-139131.html Thursday 21 FebruaryAn early start as our flight to Los Angeles departs at 9.30am. We checked out of Bellagio at 7am and took a taxi to the airport. At the US Airways check in we were unfortunately charged excess baggage as two of our bags weighed in excess of 50 pounds each something that had not been on problem on our flight here. Crsquoest la Vie. Then we came across the dreaded TSA and http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/blog-249039.html Monday February18 2008After finally finishing packing we both took a deep breath and sighed in reliefhellip..The time had come for our long awaited trip We ordered a taxi to the Airport and our flight was scheduled to depart at 3.35pm.Check in was quick very fast at the Priority desks as was customs. We bypassed the dutyfree shops and headed straight to the new Qantas Club which had only r http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Nevada/Las-Vegas/blog-248089.html December 28 2007 What a perfect way to end the year we thought lets go to SingaporeLuckily we were able to organise flights and accommodation and Jim was able to look after the dogs. I made my way to Sydney Airport and met Jeff at 3pm after his shift finished.After check in we made our way to the Qantas Club and while I had a refreshing drink Jeff showered and changed. The lounge is in middl http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Singapore/blog-231447.html Sunday August 12 2007Jeff and I decided to make a mid winter trip to warmer a climate. Central Australia seemed a good decision and Yulara Ayers Rock and the Olgas was the destination. We arrived at Terminal 3 at Sydney Airport and after checking in for flight QF728 in seats 2 AC we made our way the Qantas Club. Itrsquos always nice to relax have a coffee before a flight.Our flight departe http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Northern-Territory/Uluru/blog-193198.html Thursday April 19 After returning the car we returned to the Sheraton for some final packing and we checked out of the hotel and caught the shuttle to the airport. Boy did we have some luggage and in hindsight there were some things we didnrsquot need to bring along but hey we made it and thatrsquos the main thing. Arriving at check in we were told that the computers were down but a http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/blog-152046.html Monday April 16 We arranged a Lincoln Town car Limousine to take us to Kennedy Airport this morning for our flight to Los Angeles. Check in was a breeze we didnrsquot have to take our bags anywhere for scrutiny at all it just went down the belt quite different to other airports where it is taken aside and X rayed. We walked to the Admirals Club which is the American Airlines lounge. It wa http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/blog-150339.html New York Thursday April 12 We checked out of the hotel and caught a cab to Reagan National Airport for our flight to New York. We went to the self service check in but was given a message to go to Customer service. We were then told by a very indifferent American Airlines employee that our flight had been cancelled. We asked if he could re book us but his response was ldquoNo get in the lin http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/Manhattan/blog-148352.html Washington April 9 Up early and with the last bit of packing to do we looked out our window towards the lake to see it snowing. We checked out of the Park Hyatt and caught a taxi to the Airport. On the way we discussed and dreaded the Airport Security due to our experiences on our last visit here. Pleasantly enough we breezed straight through with little problem. We had a cup of tea in the http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/District-of-Columbia/Washington/blog-147731.html Thursday 5 April An early wake up call and off o the airport for our 7.25am flight to London with a connecting flight to Chicago. A short taxi ride away with a pleasant and helpful taxi driver and we were at Tegel Airport. It is a very small airport and has an unusual concept of checking in right at the gate then passing straight through Immigrations and Security and directly into the gate http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-145910.html We arrived at the Park Hyatt hotel. What a lovely hotel The staff were all smiling and welcoming and so efficient. We were checked in quickly and escorted to a wonderful room overlooking Michigan Avenue and the lake. It was so large beautifully furnished and very elegant with a huge marble bathroom with every conceivable convenience. Apparently this is one of Jennifer Anistonrsquos favouri http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-146238.html Sunday April 1 After a drive just over 2 hours we dropped off our rental car and took the shuttle to Terminal1 at Heathrow airport. We checked in at the Premium check in area and then passed through the very strict security and went to the British Airways Terraces lounge. It was large and busy but well designed to still have enough of a feeling of privacy. Our flight to Berlin was delayed 3 http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Germany/District-of-Berlin/Berlin/blog-144442.html Friday March 30 Arrived at our hotel Holland House in Bristol. Yes a change from our original itinerary. Itrsquos a new hotel only that only opened a 9 days ago. Its very smart a few minor teething problems to be expected at this stage but very comfortable a good find Unpacked we freshened up and walked into the city centre for dinner. We eventually found a small restaurant near the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Bristol-County/Bristol/blog-143769.html Monday 26 March We awoke at 6am after 12 hours deep sleep much needed after the . We read the papers wrote some blog and watched British morning TV. The news of the moment is the captured British Sailors and the murder of cricket coach Bob Woolmer. Breakfast and a cup of tea later we checked out of the hotel and the car company picked us in their shuttle bus. It turned out that the car we http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Cornwall/Falmouth/blog-142841.html