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Published: January 11th 2013
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THE SAILS
World renowned Sydney Opera House We decided to ring in the New Year in high style, so on January 1st we boarded a United 747 for the 7500 mile flight across the Pacific Ocean to Sydney, Australia. This would be the first leg of our circumnavigation of planet earth by airplane and ship. Usually we board our ship in the United States and travel around the world at sea level. This year we'll still be doing a 360 degree circle of the globe but the beginning and end with be done at 38,000 ft. over the two great oceans.
I recently heard that the average person will walk about 160,000 miles in their lifetime. That is equivalent to going around the world six times. We find that going by ship and airplane is a little less strenuous and maybe more fun than walking around the world.
We enjoyed our brief time at home over the holidays and had several boat dine-arounds in our marina to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve with good friends. We got enough rain and cold weather and dire warnings of falling off some cliff to make us look happily forward to summer in Australia. Due to the magic of
United Mileage Plus, we were able to enjoy the 15 hour flight from Los Angeles to Sydney in business class. Our seats were on the 747’s upper deck next to the cockpit. This aircraft is equipped with seats that recline to a flat bed position. Even I, who never sleeps on a plane, was able to grab a few winks in these luxurious seats. When we boarded, the cockpit door was open so we introduced ourselves to the flight officers. Captain Shea and Kevin swapped Navy flying stories and we reminisced about my former airline, Braniff. Captain Shea let us sit in the pilot seats for a picture...something we hadn't done in many years. The last time we were on the flight deck of a commercial airplane was on a supersonic Concorde from London to New York back in 1999. That was really exciting---especially when the airplane reached Mach 2 speed. But it's hard to beat a 747 for spaciousness and comfort. The airplane is staffed with two captains and two co-pilots. All four are in the cockpit for take-off and landing and then one set of officers sleeps for seven hours and then trade off with the other team
CHRISTMAS ON MANA
Home for the holidays for the next seven hours. This assures an alert and rested crew.
We are spending three weeks exploring the east coast of Australia by car prior to boarding the Regent Voyager on Jan 24. Our cruise will take us through Asia for two months and then on to India and the Middle East, up the Red Sea to the Mediterranean stopping in Israel and Turkey, then around the edge of Europe ending in England on June 2---maybe just in time for the royal birth. In London we will board another United flight and fly home--thus closing the circle. We are looking forward to going back to some of our favorite countries like Japan, Bali, Vietnam, Oman, Israel, Turkey and spending springtime in Europe. We will meet up with old friends and new ones on this cruise along with many shipboard staff whom we have sailed with for years.
Upon arrival in Sydney, the Immigrations & Customs Hall was chaos. I think every international flight had landed within five minutes of each other. Because we were traveling business class, we were able to bypass the regular lines to clear formalities thereby saving us hours of waiting in a
NEW YEARS EVE
Bringing in the 2013 with good friends. queue. This is a real perk for travel weary passengers.
We picked up our rental car and realized quickly that we needed all of our senses on high alert since we would be driving on the left side of the road in rush hour traffic. We had reservations at a resort style hotel in a suburb of Sydney close to the Olympic Park. We spent four days recovering from jet lag and a bad cold. We visited the Ryde library several times to check on travel options up north. The librarian was so helpful and everyone we met seemed to really like our Yankee accent. They all wanted to know if we were on holiday and what we were going to be doing. In one grocery line, it seemed that everyone had a suggestion as to where we should go for a fine time. The Aussie spirit is alive and well in spite of a record setting heat wave which is covering most of the country. Hobart, Tasmania just recorded it highest temperature ever--about 116 degrees. We have always been cold in Hobart, so this is indeed a rarity. Wild fires are breaking out all over with little relief
in sight.
We are heading up to the Central Coast area of New South Wales and will spend a week or two exploring before driving back to Sydney to join up with friends for a visit and then board the Voyager. We are fortunate to have this extra time to spend in the lovely land of OZ.
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Mimi Pill
non-member comment
Half through a back to back voyage
I'm aboard the Azamara Quest. First segment was ten day Rio to Buenos Aires (spent 3 days in Rio before boarding) and this segment is 16 day round trip Buenos Aires - to Antarctic. Will be home Feb 1st. Love this ship, almost as much as Voyager and Mariner. Happy New Year and smooth sailing. Love, Mimi