Dallas Day 1

I was in or near Dallas for 3 days and I will admit I was surprised. I did enjoy myself there and the people were just so friendly. They were always ready for a chat. I think it might have also had something to do with the fact I’m from Australia but it was nice there. Peaceful. Which was very lucky for me considering the stress I was under after the flight there. Why was I stressed… this is why.

Flights from Australia to Dallas only leave from Sydney, I’m from Melbourne so I had to flight to Sydney first. No problem 5 hours in the international terminal wasn’t so bad. Went around shops, had something to eat and bought a book as I finished all my books the week before the trip. From there we flew to Dallas. One of the flight attendants was really nice on the flight. My mum told him how I get air sick and he was bringing me dry biscuits every now and then (they were the ones off people’s meals but they were wrapped in plastic and food is food so I didn’t care where they came from), he also suggested what drinks for me to have so that was nice. What wasn’t so nice was at landing in the afternoon hearing my name over the loud-speaker of the plane to see someone once off the plane. I found someone and was told my suitcase was still in Sydney. I was in Sydney for 5 hours, plenty of time for them to transfer my suitcase onto my Dallas flight but no they left it. My mum got her suitcase. So again thank you travel insurance, my suitcase was missing for 24 hours so I bought some clothes and toiletries.

But of course I wasn’t able to go shopping straight away. First I had to go through customs which took at least an hour. I found it very interesting though. To enter the United States you must have your fingerprints taken as well as your photo. Your fingerprints are scanned by a little scanner while your photo is taken by a web camera on top of the custom officers computer. So I’m now recorded in a big database. Bit scary but interesting as well. That process took a while. Then I had to go to a counter to fill out forms about my luggage and found out how my suitcase was getting to me. It had to go via Qantas to LA, then transferred to an American Airways flight to Dallas. I was worried. Last time my suitcase had to be transferred from one flight to another it wasn’t. But I was told that the airline would deliver my suitcase to my hotel for me. And they also gave me the flight numbers, so what I did was I looked up the flight to LA while I was in the hotel the next day. Once cleared and mum had her suitcase we had to call for the shuttle to take us to the hotel. Again we waited about 45 minutes. So by the time we got to the hotel it was 5pm.

As my suitcase was missing I needed to get some clothes. I refused to sleep in my jeans and airplane clothes (I had a change of day clothes in my bag I changed into) so we headed to the mall located down the road from the hotel. There where sales on at every store and there was so many clothes stores but I just couldn’t find anything I liked. I am fussy with what I wear and there was nothing I was really thrilled about getting. So I bought pyjamas and a skirt (I got my toothbrush the next day couldn’t find one in the mall).

After a long flight and exhausting day we end up having room service for dinner. I had chicken soup and a burger with chips, while Mum just had the burger and chips. I was starving after only having a couple of biscuits on the flight so it was nice to have a big meal. And let me say the Texans know how to make a good burger.

We bought an internet connection through the hotel and I received an email from Dad back home telling us how lucky we were to get out of Sydney when we did as after we left the volcano ash came back and all flights around Australia got grounded. I didn’t think much of it only that I had beaten the ash so it wasn’t going to stop me, until one of my Facebook friends pointed out to me my suitcase was in Sydney and flights were cancelled in Sydney. Lot of swearing at the back of my mind when she pointed that out. I spent at least 45 minutes that night refreshing the Qantas site with the flight status of my suitcase. It was scheduled for 1.10pm and at 1.17 I was still refreshing with no change to the flight status estimated 1.10pm. At 1.25pm the flight departed and was headed to LA, so I was happy with that and was able to enjoy my burger.

So that was my first day of my holiday and the first day of my travel bad luck.

Getting ready to go….again

Well we didn’t unpack our suitcases so there was no need to worry about those. Everything has been re booked and confirmed. We even made sure to update our Travel Insurance Policy with the new dates just in case, better to be safe then sorry. And I’m pretty sure there is no volcanos erupting at the moment so it looks like all flights a go.

Tomorrow morning i need to get up at 5am to make sure I’m ready the first flight to Sydney, where we have a couple of hour stop over before we head off to Dallas. Yesterday I happened to be watching the catch up of one of the weekly morning shows and it happened to be a segment on Dallas, had to be a sign. The showed Longhorn cattle and it was then I was determined to see one. Mum wants me to ride one but the horns kind of scare me (of course I’m happy to have a monkey climb on my back and be picked up by an elephant and ride one but I draw the line at a cow, go figure). I posted a photo of one on my facebook book and no one could believe the length of the horns. My favourite reaction was o_O, and now people want me to post a photo of me with one of the cows with in the next 3-4 days. Lets hope I can get over my fear of the horns.

But yeah leaving tomorrow, can not wait. Now to do the online check in, if it will allow us as Qantas has decided to change my name and won’t let me correct them.

Wish me and Mum luck.

Every thing is going according to new plan

Today was another day of fixing up the trip. My big job was going to the travel agents this morning to fix up the internal flights. Thankfully the travel agents opened at 9 so I was able to go in and cancel our first flight from LAX to Orlando a couple of hours before the flight was set to take off. I spent an hour in the travel agents getting new flights. So that’s all good.

Tonight Mum spent the night on the phone with Disney World changing out accommodation and the character breakfast and other dinning plans. The women who Mum spoke to was very helpful and very understanding and we were able to change our accommodation with no fees, only extra charges for the extra nights we are there.

So everything is back on track.

Take off….or not

Today at 10.10am Mum and I were meant to take off from Melbourne to Los Angeles which did not happen. I woke up at 6.30 am to make sure I was ready to go to the airport, double checking hand luggage and we had our online check in tickets and once we arrived at the airport we noticed our flight was delayed till 11.30. Once the first 30 minutes passed waiting in line at the front we realised the people at the counters weren’t actually getting served. In fact all the airport staff looked confused. After about an hour in line we found out that the board listing the flights listed our flight as cancelled. It took the airline 20 minutes to actually tell us the flight was cancelled. All we were told to do was go home and call the airline to book new flights.

All flights from this airline were cancelled that morning, international and domestic so it would be expected that the phone line would be busy. It was so busy my Brother and Mum shared looking after the phone for 6 hours. During those 6 hours my Brother called about our travel insurance and American Airline in the US for us fixing up our flights. He also help with getting out new flight to America. So instead of getting there on the 13th I will be arrive on the 20th, in Dallas. What about Orlando? There is a solution.

Instead of having to re arrange all our internal flights and hotels we decided it would be easier to rearrange when we got to Orlando, so instead of ending in Las Vegas we are ending at Orlando and we get an extra day or two there. So it’s not a major problem, easily fix and thankfully the travel insurance will help us out.

So lesson learnt GET TRAVEL INSURANCE.

If you are wondering why my flight got cancelled its because of the volcano that went of in Chile. What has happened is the ash has been carried over by the wind and is causing problems for New Zealand, Tasmania (Tasmania is apart of Australia) and this morning for Melbourne. Flight resumed this afternoon after we were told there would be no flights today. So not happy with the airline (QANTAS) but there is nothing that can be done to stop a volcano erupting it is tragic and the second one that has had an impact on my holiday (I was in Europe when the one in Iceland went off last year).

Next Week Woo going on holiday. Now to see if work needs me to work. I have nothing to do for the week.

The Countdown

6 days in Orlando

3 days in Dallas

7 days in New York with 1 day trip to Washington DC

4 days in Las Vegas.

Leaving Melbourne in 23 days for a 3 week holiday with my Mum. In the past I left it to my Mum to organise the holidays and I would just go along. This time I helped out with organising the trip and must say I’m very excited about going. Since it was decided we were going to America in December I’ve been working on my days off from Uni so I could pay for this trip and so I could also go shopping.

I can’t wait for the trip. If I had to say where I was looking forward to going to the most I wouldn’t be able to choose. Had I not helped with organising I would have just looked forward to Disney World as I already knew a bit about it. But I really can’t choose. They all have their draw ins. Also there’s a lot to do with my family during this trip. Meeting my Mum’s cousin for the first time in Dallas and seeing where my Great Nonnos went through in Ellis Island.

Let the countdown begin.

I’ll be back when I land in LA.

Take care

Viva Las Vegas

Most people go to Vegas for gambling and drinking. I’m underage in America so I can’t do any of that but doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy myself. This is our second time in the city but unlike last time it’s just Mum and I which means shopping and shows. Yep going to New York and going to try to see 1 show on or off-Broadway but in Las Vegas we are going to see 2 shows. In fact we are going to see our first show the day we arrive in Vegas which is Cirque du Soleil’s O.

So far we have seen all the Cirque du Soleil shows that have come to Melbourne but O has been one Mum has been wanting to see since it opened. What makes this show so special and different from the ones that come through Melbourne is that it’s in water. It still has all the acrobatics style we love from Cirque du Soleil but on a whole new level.

The second show we are seeing which is on the second day of Vegas is one for my Mum, Celine Dion. Mum is a big fan of Celine Dion, I remember Mum playing her music all the time when I was little, English and French, Mum played it. When I’ve told people I’m going to see Celine Dion they give me grief but for my Mum I will go, also it means she has to go to an attraction I want to go to in one of the cities we visit.

With shopping there’s another 2 Premium Outlet in Vegas and we just happen to arrive in time for the sales. We are planning to do a lot of shopping within these 4 days, so much so we already believe we will be buying a second suitcase each to come home. There’s also MnM world in Vegas.What I remember from this world was massive tubes filled with MnM’s that are usually sold. There’s MnM’s in every colour and shade and every flavour.

But of course let us not forget what makes Vegas Vegas. Elvis. Nah the casinos. Each casino has their own theme and they really put on a show. You have Caesars Palace, The Bellagio (the one from Oceans 11), Luxor (the pyramid one), MGM Grand (where I’ll be staying) Circus Circus, Excalibur, Mirage, New York New York (for those who can’t make it to New York), these are just a few of the hotels/casinos in Vagas. So even if you can’t gamble or drink you can still explore the hotels. I went to Las Vegas for the first time when I was 10 and I had a ball. The one thing I regret about going there was not getting a photo with the lion cubs at MGM Grand.

Nothing beats either when it’s night-time. If you are with young children don’t keep them out to late but at least let them see Vegas when the lights go on. It’s truly beautiful.

Broadway and the end of New York

If you go to New York you have to go and see a Broadway show. Here in Melbourne we are pretty lucky we get a lot of the big shows first in Australia, but alas the shows I would really want to see on Broadway I’ve seen here or on the West End. No matter what I will see a show on Broadway, I must or I wouldn’t be much of a musical theatre lover if I didn’t.

Mum and I have already started looking at what shows are on and even looked a booking prices. We nearly died from the price. But that will not stop me. Why? I know a secret……

By the tickets on the day. Yep around Broadway there are kiosks to buy last minute tickets and they are discounted. I know in London they do the same thing. That’s how I got to see Billy Elliot.

I think when it comes to seeing a show in New York, just like deciding which landmark to go to, Mum and I will decide once we are there. I think New York will be one of those cities where you will go there be awe struck and just follow your heart where to go. But one cannot go there unprepared, thus the guide book, maps, New York Passes and the booked tours.

I’ve also made a promise to my family that I will make it to Ellis Island, I’ve also added I will take videos and plenty of photos to show my nonna. I want to go to FOA Schwarz but only if it’s on the way in one of the tours from the book (which it is hehe Mum doesn’t know). Mum also wants to go to the Tiffanys store from Breakfast at Tiffanys. I’ve agreed to go only if I can check out the toy store so that’s in the maybe pile. We have also be considering a carriage ride in central park but that depends on cost.

I’m super psyched about New York City. The Big Apple. The place where I must get a specific brand of I <3 NY t-shirt for one of my friends. I must not forget that one item of clothing.

Can’t wait