32 hours down...9 to go.

     I am sitting by the giant windows of the Brisbane Airport watching the planes take off and land and am thankful that there is no way this last flight to Christchurch can be messed up (knock on wood). This voyage through the skies from Florida to Phoenix to LA to Brisbane has been probably the most hellish or at least in the top two, but as my fiancé so lovingly says “it’s been an adventure”. That it has. After discovering in Tampa that my flight was canceled, I was able to get another flight through Phoenix instead of Detroit and since the new flight was through US Airways who are sisters with V Australia, I was able to check my bag all the way through.

     So I get to Phoenix thinking the worst is over...nope! I shouldn’t have let my travel guard down, I know better than to trust American domestic airlines. My flight from PHX>LAX was delayed an hour and a half because...get this...the pilots were late. The plane was there and fueled up and ready to go but there apparently weren’t any other pilots that could fly this plane except two coming from a delayed Pittsburgh flight. Sweet. At this point I start to freak out. I was going to miss my V Australia flight over the pacific from LAX>BNE and since I had two separate flights booked, if I missed that flight I would be stuck in LA for two entire days plus have to pay $1250 to get on the next flight. WHAT?! I know. I had already been flying and in airports for 9 hours and was exhausted and that’s when a lovely migraine decided to pop in.

     The plane lands in LA, and we get our bags and start heading out of the plane. Between my nerves, my migraine and the disgustingly weird sandwich I ate in Phoenix, I start to realize that I should probably find one of those barf bags. Check in started for my LAX>BNE flight 10 minutes ago, I’m puking into a barf bag while running with all my bags from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 outside in the heat and smog of LAX. I toss my barf bag in the trash like a pro, swig some water and continue running. I can't make this shit up. I finally make it to the V Australia desk and the head check in man is like nope. Nope. Nope. I wish I was one of those girls who could cry on command like when they get pulled over by a cop. But I’ve never been pulled over, nor have I cried on command since I was the little sister trying to get her brothers in trouble (worked every time). So eventually I tell the guy that I’m a poor college student (true) and that I have no money to get home, get a new flight or to stay two nights in LA (also true) and when he still said no I held up my left hand and told him I was getting married in two days and I couldn’t miss my own wedding (not so true...but it worked!). I ran like hell to my gate, boarded, sat down & fell asleep for a couple hours and then proceeded to have one of the best 13 hour pacific flights ever. V Australia is the most awesome airline! Neon lights of different colours, flight attendants wear wacky hats and glasses and they’re all super nice, which you don’t experience on American flights...ever. Plus, they had the best movies like the Hangover, Couples Retreat and Avatar.

     So once again, here I am in Brisbane, six hours into my twelve hour layover (which I had to have a visa for -ridiculous) and I’ve been walking around being that stupid American tourist taking photos and getting the same looks as when I take photos out of every airplane window and exclaim to the person next to me, “Aren’t the clouds so amazing!?”

     I was really excited to find the showers here in BNE, yet realized after the fact that there isn’t soap, shampoo or towels...I told myself I’m a camp counselor I can handle anything and then proceeded to use my sweatpants as a towel. Classy.

     I am alive, a little run down, migraine is gone, exhausted but trying to stay awake so I don’t have jet lag when I get into Christchurch at 1:00 am. It certainly has been an adventure. Say a little prayer for me that the rest of my trip goes well, as I am going on 32 hours of travel and I still have 9 to go till I get to tackle Josh in the airport and walk out into the dead of winter. Oh, and I'm 75% sure my bags didn't make it on my LAX>BNE flight. Yay! Stay tuned for more, I’m sure you are just riveted.

Tampa International (TPA)

TPA>PHX

The clouds looked like birds flying next to us. If you haven't heard the song Bird's Eye View by Amy Kuney, download it and listen to it next time you're on an airplane.

The Great American West.

TPA>PHX. I never cease to be amazed by the clouds.

Hello, Arizona.

Brisbane Airport (BNE)

Scultpure in BNE

Welcome to Australia.