San Francisco to New Zealand

As we boarded the plane in San Francisco, the pilot warned we would hit some turbulence and that even the flight path would be altered closer to Hawaii. At the time I told myself it was kind of reassuring to be forewarned, unlike my last flight over the Pacific when it was sudden and unexpected.

Reassurance was short lived. Soon after they offered water and announced the meal, it hit. The plane was crazy with turbulence, my newly poured water flew off the tray, our bodies were swung left and right, sounds like things were falling off of the plane shook my nerves, and at any moment I was waiting for the oxygen masks to drop. Dinner was delayed because of the turbulence, naturally, and when it slowed down enough to serve dinner, I was afraid still to open the diet coke they gave me for fear of another drink going off the tray. John wears the battle scars of my nails squeezed into his skin, I was that afraid.

This went on for a long time, so I don’t know HOW I managed to sleep, John did too, for about 5 hours. I credit the muscle relaxers I took for back pain. Five hours from being aware of how LONG the trip really is, can be something to be very thankful for.

It’s a long trip from San Francisco to New Zealand. This was badly taken with my cell phone, but shows how long 13 hours across the Pacific looks like.

Now if traveling half across the globe isn’t confusing enough to try and figure out what time it is at home, your destination, and the city you just left, trying to figure out if it’s tomorrow or yesterday is also confusing. We passed over some Islands in the Pacific and crossed and recrossed the International Date Line a few times.

Today, Yesterday or Tomorrow?

We finally saw the end at sunrise over New Zealand. What a wonderful sight to see the moon and one star, and the beginning of a sunrise.

John had the window seat so took the view from our window with his camera.

Before we landed, and thinking ahead how this trip is really what my future is about from here on in, and being in the back row, I got up and asked the flight attendant if this kind of turbulence is normal. She conceded that this was a lot of turbulence on this particular trip but that it was more or less normal. We hit cross winds and happens all the time. John and I liked our back seats, which sat only two people, which is kind of how we wanted it.  A window seat for him and an aisle seat for me (I like to walk around a lot), and she added that the back seats feel it more than in the front or middle. Something to keep in mind 🙂

It was so good to land in New Zealand. I didn’t even care we had a long wait, I needed to be off of a plane for awhile.

We found a cafe with a view of our plane right outside the window.

To the right of where we sat was this overhead structure, which changed images and colors.

What $15.00 in Auckland airport can buy you.

John, at the cafe, not looking to worse for the wear considering only 5 hours sleep, the turbulence, and being stuck on a plane for 13 hours or so.

After our coffee and snack, walking and stretching our legs in the airport seemed like a great idea, as well as taking photos to pass the time.

John insisted I pose with this to introduce spricket-weary Laura to New Zealand crickets.

Something you don’t see in every airport…if your plane is not yet assigned a gate, RELAX. It seems that New Zealanders are even more casual than Australians.

So we took it literally as John gave me a fantastic foot rub and massage.

Another young traveler did the same. I became very lonesome for Rubí as I saw this little one sound asleep on the floor.

Looks out of the observation windows gave us hints of New Zealand’s lush and green landscapes.

One plane in the airport had us both fascinated, the Hobbit plane just has to be the coolest decoration for a plane our there.

One more look as it takes off.

We were more than ready, turbulence or not, to board the plane to Perth. The last leg of our journey was very pleasant. As it landed in Perth we were told to collect all trash, and even unwanted children and spouses….”Kiwi humor,” John told me.