A drive up Mount Coot-tha for lunch: that was the first thing we did after we checked into our hotel in Brisbane today. The view over the city was wonderful, especially as it changed so often. Sun and then shadow and rain, then sun again. Thank you for that suggestion–and for all of the great ideas for our time here.

I learned a few things on the way here:

• Northwest Airline had QSA’s–Quality Service Assistants. They do whatever is needed to smooth the way for travelers with unusual needs, from celebrities to film crews with mountains of equipment to the woman whose husband died in the airport or on the plane. Delta doesn’t have QSA’s, so now that NWA is Delta, it’s not clear whether this kind of service will continue at Minneapolis St. Paul Airport, which used to be a NWA hub.
• The visa for visiting Australia is applied for online and will show up when the ticket agent prints your boarding pass.
• Ticket agents working Sunday may be less experienced and think you don’t have a visa (according to the experienced guy at the service desk where we were sent), while agents working on busy Mondays can do it all.
• If you leave Minneapolis on Sunday night, you arrive in Australia on Tuesday morning. I’m assuming we’ll get that day back on our way home? But I can’t do the math, because when we return, we’ll arrive in Los Angeles before we left Sydney. And wait a minute–I’m writing you on Tuesday, and you’re probably reading this on Monday? AAAGGGHHH, math!
• It’s not wise to bring any uncooked anything into Australia. They are strict in order to maintain the unique indigenous ecosystem. A flight attendant told me she’d brought a can of natural almonds (i.e. not roasted) one time and it was confiscated. She said if you don’t claim all food, and they find any uncooked items, they will go through everything. So I checked the correct square because of the commercially packaged individual servings of natural almonds in my checked bag. Turns out it was no problem for me. But next time (I hope there’ll be a next time), I’ll avoid the possibility of hassle.
• The Sydney airport is not well-marked for international arrivals. We wasted 1/2 hour going through unnecessary lines. Next time, I’ll ask directions at every turn.
• On the Virgin flight from Sydney to Brisbane, Johnny asked for a Diet Pepsi as the cart came down the aisle. The flight attendant opened it, poured it, and asked for $2–the first time we’ve ever had to pay for a soft drink on a plane.
• Watching Australia on the plane seemed like good cultural preparation, right? But, according to an Australian, it’s not quite like that. In particular, he mentioned the massive cliff and canyon in one dramatic scene. The northern territory is beautiful and rugged, and yet for this scene, the cliff was computer generated.
• Brisbane is the most beautiful city in Australia, the same person told me. “But don’t say I said so, because I’m from Sydney.” So that’s what he said, but I won’t tell you who he is.

Well, I guess all that’s pretty random. Maybe after a good night’s sleep, I’ll be able to think one thought for more than one sentence.

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