And now, just 3 days later, I was back in the Friendly Skies of UA back to LAX – only trouble was that the Biz was full and I could not try to chip away at my mile mountain to use some to upgrade, so had to sit with the packed in sardines in the back – my goodness, how cozy !! But the service was OK and we were fed and watered at intervals and they have changed things so that you don’t get all your meal at once, coming round a second time with the hot stuff, which must have taken a lot of negotiating to get them to do, as flight attendants, by nature, spend most of their time trying to work out how to cut corners to their advantage viz: do as little as possible and then sit on jump seats and bitch about “THEM” and what they want us to do ….it’s a never ending cycle. In LAX, a quick walk between terminals in the balmy evening air, is pleasant after the hours of sitting. And into the arms of Air New Zealand. And thanks to friends at BA/LAX, they knew I was coming and I was given a much better seat, which was a huge relief. We had a long night ahead of us and it was already way past my bedtime in NY, so I was yawning away already.
Another packed flight. The once a week milk run – LAX, Tahiti, Rarotonga, Fiji, Auckland – so many stops already Just to make it a bit more of an ordeal, it departs late at night and as you are zooming west, the night comes with you, so soon we shall be in Papeete (Tahiti to you, Vera) and it will be 4am which is a bugger as I’ve never been there and wanted to at least see if it’s as pretty as they say. It’s been a v bumpy ride, for sure and Captain Speaking has given us a mini lecture on the jetstream and our involvement with same, which was far too long, esp when people were trying to pretend they were asleep. Don’t they ever learn ?
In Tahiti, they made us all get off, despite being the middle of the night and we were serenaded by a welcoming and very geriatric string band, playing with enormous gusto for 4am – all a bit too much for the ears certainly. I saw Air NZ had a lounge upstairs which may have been a/c, as the general area downstairs was certainly not. So I pushed on the bell and waited to be buzzed in – after about three tries at that, the buzzer went but I could not move the door in or out. Buzzed again – this game went on for a few rotations and eventualee the madame inside put her shoulder to the door and it flew open, nearly flattening me. She told me I had to ‘ poussez” a bit – more like taking a running charge was the only suggestion I had and hope it would not fly off the hinges. Anyway, it was cool inside and I had some water and watched a huge flat screen televison that was blasting out CNN – there is no escape, even in Paradise. I imagine they probably have CNN in Heaven these days, although it’s more my idea of Hell.
Meanwhile a new crew had taken over, in the amazing non mix and match Air NZ uniform. Must have been designed by a terminally blind committee I think, as it does them few favors. Final insult is a large bowler hat which they have to pull down so that it just about flattens their ears – they look like something out of the Keystone Cops. Anyway the final hop to Rarotonga (found that yet, Vera ?) was only one hour 40 mins and soon we were rushing up through the turbulence again so that we could come back down through only minutes later. Flying around here can be a very bumpy affair. In Rarotonga, yet another slightly demented and very senior guitar player was waiting to blast our ears at 6am, with the sun coming up. Lazy, lush tropical air the moment you get off the plane and huge puddles on the tamac indicated that this is somewhere that can have rain at any time. It was quite sauna-like. Very militant immigration lady demanded to see my ticket to get off the island a few days later -perhaps they have a problem with people deciding that this is paradise and not ever leaving. The nice young lady from our ground agent was waiting for me and soon I was whisked off to “the resort” as it is known (rather than the hotel), pretty drive along the coast with the sea breaking over the reef in the distance, waving palms, sultry air, hibiscus everywhere and a general air of slow living – looked just like the South Seas, and yes Vera that’s just where I was.
timothyvalentinestravels 