I was so excited for my trip back to New Zealand. I thought I had exhausted all my bad luck by catching food poisoning at my little going away party a few nights before my departure. Still a bit queasy but feeling mostly full of good things, I boarded my array of planes – New York to Los Angeles to Sydney to Wellington, New Zealand.
Well, that was how it was supposed to go, at least…
This was the view from my hotel room in Sydney.
About a half hour before we landed in Sydney, one of the flight attendants came to tell all the people who were connecting to New Zealand that the ash cloud had returned for a second turn around the globe and we were not cleared to fly into New Zealand. The airline would put us in a hotel until they could put us on a flight to our destination.
At first I started to panic but then I started to realize that hey… this was another opportunity for adventure! It’s not like I was going to be left to fend for myself. They were making sure I was taken care of. It wasn’t like I was stuck in the middle of a dangerous place – this was Australia – another country I’ve always wanted to see, right? Plus, I was lucky enough to be one of those people who wasn’t flying in to New Zealand for a specific event. I felt really badly for those people. My anniversary was only two days away, however, and I was going to be really upset if I missed that.
That’s when they told us that we would leave two days from now. Now this whole thing was really ruining my plans. “At least I would arrive in New Zealand on my anniversary,” I told myself. That’s when I really wanted to cry for the first time but again I decided to pull myself together and not let an opportunity like this slip away.
The hotel was REALLY NICE. I decided to enjoy it. This was still all about me and for the past few months I had really enjoyed getting to know myself again and doing things for me (losing weight being the main thing) and so one more night wasn’t going to hurt. Break out the mini bar!
Hahaha just kidding. I went food shopping and took the wine and good stuff out of the mini bar. Do you know how freaking EXPENSIVE that crap is? Plus, it gave me the opportunity to go walkabout Sydney! HA! See what I did there? Walkabout! Ugh, that was really bad. Sorry.
I also met some friends. There were there two girls in the same situation as me. Both of them were Americans traveling to New Zealand. One of them lived in New Zealand like me and one of them was visiting New Zealand for holiday. We stuck together and went around Sydney – went food shopping together and kept each other posted on how things were progressing with the airline.
Oh, and it doesn’t end there…
To be Continued…
Oh! You were here in Sydney! I hope you had a lovely time, shame we couldn’t meet up because I would have loved to show you some cool places. Can’t wait to hear the rest – your hotel room is lovely. :D
I love your optimistic it turned out to be and I couldn’t imagine being “stuck” anyplace more awesome. It’s also en English speaking country. When I was stuck in Japan.. Well, they didn’t pay for anything and I didn’t know anyone and it was much more unnerving.
Also, walkabout. LAWL
Awesome the way you turned an annoying and frustrating situation into a fun-filled opportunity!! Some of my dearest friends are the ones I met in “random & ackward” situations while traveling by plane… I am so glad you weren’t alone and made some friends!
Sydney is perhaps the best place to be stuck, especially since you were put up in a lovely hotel. Anticipating the end of this story!
So glad you have the internet now! I’m looking forward to reading more of your blogs! Miss and love you! Love, Mom
yay! missed your blogs! glad you were able to make the most of your detour, though sorry it put a damper on your plans.
You’re back!!! Cannot wait to hear more about your adventures! Also, that hotel room looks piiiiiiimp!
dun dun DUN! The anticipation is killing me! WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?!
That’s too bad about your plane trip, but at least you got to see Sydney!! Awesome. :D
The Blogger
I'm Caity! I am a New Yorker who married a Kiwi and recently moved across the world to New Zealand. I'm a math teacher who enjoys the outdoors, photography, video games, music, and general geekery.
Life is a great big adventure and I am beginning a whole new journey. It isn't always easy but it is always worth it. ♥
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