Home from Downunder

Sorry for all the pictures but aren't you glad I bought the camera before I left. Melbourne was incredible and the conference ran like a well-oiled wheel. The organizers thought of everything which made the life of the "tutors" so easy.More pictures later but first the saga of Gabrielle goes to Australia. So I got to DFW in plenty of time, delivered at the proper gate by sweet Ronnie. I check in at the international desk and proceed through security to my gate...uh,oh...the flight to LA is delayed until 9:45 p.m. which means I will miss my connection to Sydney. Out the security, back to ticket desk, looking pitiful...I beg...I simply must be in Sydney on the 22nd. Faint and fall over, they are very accommodating and route me through San Francisco...one little problem, I have to retrieve my luggage and physically check it in again to SFO. Go get the luggage and watch them put tags on clearly marked SFO...all is well. I am off to OZ.
The flight is uneventful as one would hope. Get to Sydney and go through international transfer, never see luggage, don't go through customs until Melbourne. Get on plane to Melbourne, all is right with the world. But not quite.....
Arrive at Melbourne...waiting for luggage...find my clothes, BUT no quilts and teaching materials. One very large suitcase is missing. Nicely go to United desk and request search for luggage......which is in...Los Angeles. Huh? Hang on dear readers, they are most apologetic and promise to have it to me the next day on the earliest flight possible.....and guess what...they did. Since I wasn't on the plane, United paid cargo charges for my luggage and didn't charge me.
One would think at this point all is well. Bert, my taxi driver, suggested I sit in the front seat so I can experience fully driving on the wrong side of the road...oh, my gawd, they turn into on coming traffic....glad I wasn't in a rent car. I can see the headlines..stupid US quiltmaker causes major pile-up on freeway from airport. Bert, is a kind gentleman, sees me into hotel where...they have given away my reservation since I was delayed due to the flight changes. Again, not to worry, they were most cordial, probably because I looked like a piece of toast, and find accommodations for me. Managed to stay awake until 8 p.m. before crashing and was well rested the next day when I committed more faux pas'....but I am on my way to Canada on 3 March so packing and answering email must take precedent over the other stories.
Promise to up-date on all the rest of the travels when I get back on 14 March...until then, I hope someone is making quilts while I am getting stamps on my passport.