Arrived in France

Still having trouble loading photos. Finally got the packs packed. Can't say we had way too much stuff but it weighed way way too much. I can see I'll end up carrying more than I wanted to carry. Felicity drove us the 3 odd hours to Melbourne where we had a quick lunch with James and had a family shot taken.

Then it was off to the airport where there were a few tears when we said goodbye to Felicity. (It wasn't that long ago when we said goodbye to her there.). Off like a couple of overgrown school kids. It still hadn't really sank in that were we off for three whole months.

Got settled in the plane and just about ready to leave and felt the need to go to the toilet. (you know it's an age thing). No problems I thought, just wait until we get up there and then be first off the block. Good plan except it took ages and I was really really busting and didn't enjoy the take off one bit. That out of the way the flight to Singapore took ages but were were watching movies and eating so it wasn't too bad. Had an hour or so at Singapore airport and had a bit of a walk around. Very clean, so much so Annette wanted me to go and take a photo of the loo. Went into the gents and saw what she meant. First cubical had the hole in the floor job. Annette didn't tell me about that. Backed out pretty quick, the next one was more like home.

Off on the next plane to France, one of the new airbus. We were in the cattle class section upstairs at the rear. Two seats against the side so no climbing over a stranger. The seats were the same as the first plane but there was a good bit of space between the seat and the window which meant that you could sort of stretch out a bit more. It was a long flight. Let no-one tell you any different. If we go again we will be having a short stop in Singapore. More movies and eating then attempting to get 8 hours sleep before we landed. It was like, you wake up with a kink in the neck or the arm rest is sticking into your back or Annette has placed her legs over yours and now you can only feel one. You can't get back to sleep so you sneak a look at where the plane is (Shows you on your seat screen). You think you have to be dreaming cause it's hardly moved since you woke last time. This went on time and time again. I'm telling you, it was a long flight and sleeping on the ground in a tent is going to be easy compare to sleeping on that plane. (For a week anyway.)

Breakfast arrives and is consumed and we are about to land. Annette now informs me that she is not feeling very well. I said, what do you mean? She says, sick you know, thrown up anytime. Seat belt light is on and we are coming down. I say, its the pineapple you ate with breakfast. I left mine but I see it was gone when the trays were taken away. Pineapple, egg omelet, ham and orange juice. Yeah good choice girl. Well I suppose someone on the plane had to use those bags they supply and boy she did. Got off the plane white as a sheet and the escalators didn't help much either.

We got in the wrong lane for the passport control but give her credit she noticed something was wrong so we went back to the end of the right line. Got our packs ok which is always a worry and ventured outside to catch the bus into the city. I'd say it was just about as cold as it gets in Hamilton. Not a good start.

Do you want my first impressions of France? Probably not but here goes. The airport sucks. Most of the people who were not flying looked like they could get a part in a B grade movie and they would be carrying knives. A few of them were flying and customs were checking there bags when we walked on by. On the way in along the freeway there was a group of people living in make shift shacks on the side of the road. Like along the freeway to Melbourne airport. Between the high fence and the road. Not a good look. Neither is the amount of local youths who think they can spray paint. We got off the bus and maybe it's the area, maybe not, but every where you looked there was someone who was either homeless or looked as if he was. I'm sure it can only get better.

Found our apartment. Small, clean and functional. It will do nicely.

Damn, just lost another photo and a heap of text. Annette was still not feeling well and as you can see she was checking out the Paris sewage system. Before someone asks, no, she is not wearing a G string, it just looks that way. What a first day in Paris. Until tomorrow. Au revoir.