Day 1 – Fri 3 Sep: Canberra to Sydney to Los Angeles to New Orleans

Our transit through LAX was an experience and not one I would like to do again anytime soon. As 9/11 was still fresh in everyone’s minds, airport transits/transfers, especially in USA, were lengthy and frustrating to say the least. Anyway, after clearing Customs and Immigration, and then waiting for an eternity for our bags, we finally made it to the domestic part of the terminal for our flight to New Orleans via Dallas/Fort Worth. Travelling on an American airline was also a first for me and what an experience that was as well – people boarding with suitcases too big to fit in the overhead compartments and then complaining, and people boarding with what looked to be everything they owned, including the dog, and then complaining they had to hold stuff on their lap or place it under the seat in front of them were just two of the things I remember.

Anyway, we finally made it to New Orleans and to our hotel for the Congress – the Hyatt Regency, which also happened to be the Congress venue; very handy indeed. I shared a room with Kerri, and it was a nice room. We were hoping to be able to take our luggage to our room ourselves so that we did not have to tip as neither of us had any small notes. However, as most workers make most of their income via tips, the bellboy was onto our luggage before we could say anything. As Kerri was being sponsored, she had some notes in her purse and gave him a “fiver” which was obviously not enough as he was not impressed at all. Oh well??

Sydney to LA

Our room at Hyatt Regency New Orleans