New Zealand 2017 - Day 1 (?+2+3?)

The title for the 1st day of this trip is certainly confusing - I usually don't have to cross the International Date Line on my trips!! On Tuesday, February 14, Wendy and I took off from Logan at 4:30 PM (an hour-and-a-half late), non-stop to LA. Being late was fine because we had scheduled a 4-hour layover at LAX. The American Airlines Admirals Club at LAX was right across from our arrival gate, and is very nice:

We had a quick bite to eat, then made our way to the International Area. I LOVE LAX!!! It feels like I walked into Tomorrowland!:


a four-story-high video screen:


and other wonderful visions!


You can't tell, but the screen has flight information to BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA!

I was heading down the slippery-slope, so once on the plane just closed my eyes and zoned-out. I slept, woke up and read, dozed, drank water, walked the aisles, all while listening to Shuffle Songs on my purple nano for the next 13+ hours. I have never been on a flight this long!:



We flew through the night, and landed in Brisbane as the day was dawning:

It was nice seeing Cairns on a "local map", which is where Deede spent a Fall Semester Abroad at Trinity:


We landed at 7 AM, and our flight to Christchurch, New Zealand was at 8 AM, so there "should have been no problem" - but the Brisbane Airport makes you go through an additional security checkin, with the scans and screens and inspections (Wendy had to surrender her tiny scissors, which she had on the Camino, the Canadian Rockies, and Vancouver Island). Made it fine to the gate and onto the 3-and-a-half hour flight:


First views of the Southern Alps:


Nice and easy getting through customs, and out into the New Zealand summer:



Then a 45-minute drive to Sumner, which is on the east/beach side of Christchurch, to stay at Le Petit Hotel:

Our room is the upper left green shutters, and this is the view from that balcony:

Onto the beach!


and playing around Cave Rock:



After a nice dinner across the street, bedtime after the sun went down. Tomorrow: Christchurch Art Gallery, and more beaches! Thank you God for This Great Adventure!