We're sitting in the Melbourne Qantas Lounge, courtesy of two fellow Flyer Talkers, Dean and Karen, who hosted us in. What a lovely facility it is!
It's on the other side of the airport from our Virgin (DJ) flight, and we'll have to go through security again, but what a sensible breeze it is when traveling domestically. One needs neither a boarding pass nor I.D. You can keep your shoes on. You can carry liquids through. What looks like a long lineup turns out to take a very few minutes.
The Australians are a very sensible people, compared to, ah, some others we've experienced.
Kathy and Brian
Two retired educators alternating joyfully between seeing the world and enjoying our eight grandchildren (in order of birth), Jake, Avery, Taegan, Lily, Peyton, Riley, Blane, and Jace.
Kathy and Brian met in the clarinet section of the University of California (Santa Barbara) Symphony Orchestra several decades ago.
Brian's Western Canadian roots and Kathy's Colorado ties resulted in their making beautiful music together along with producing a cross-border crop of descendants.
Kathy spent a year studying in Vienna at the Institute for European Studies and the University of Vienna.
Brian started the school band program in Hope, British Columbia, and later became the high school's vice-principal for 6 years and subsequently principal for 15 years before retiring in 2001.
Kathy, in between raising our three children, taught kindergarten and first grade, middle school, and high school - mathematics, computer studies, ESL, and her first love, band, before retiring in 2001.
We enjoy sharing our travel experiences and providing the odd travel tip to friends, relatives, and visitors.