When I timed my trip to New Zealand, naturally I didn't look up to see what big events were on (or not!). So I arrived on the last weekend of the World Masters Games, like the Olympics for all age groups, meaning every hotel in Auckland had long been sold out. Not a peep, not … Continue reading Auckland: St Francis Retreat Centre
‘Scuse me? Where’s the blog/MA at?
I did disappear a bit. There's an empty seat where once we chatted daily. Sigh. I got to New Zealand and started working hard on the MA thesis which is - after all - why I'm travelling. I posted a few bobbets on FaceBook and kind of tailed off. I've been to Australia in between … Continue reading ‘Scuse me? Where’s the blog/MA at?
Inside Hotel Rooms: Rhapsody Resort, Gold Coast, Australia
This place is nice! It's less like a hotel and more like an apartment building. Studio doubles are the smallest room, but offer plenty of space for two people. https://youtu.be/czmtdWvwv1Q
Arrivals: Auckland Airport (AKL)
Most airports: bleurgh, whatever, get me out of here. Auckland: making a real effort on the welcoming people front! Before you get to baggage claim, there is a huge wooden hand-carved archway, called a tomokanga. It was unveiled in 2008 and you can read more about it here. Everyone was stopping to get a picture … Continue reading Arrivals: Auckland Airport (AKL)
Flights: LA801 – SCL to AKL, Santiago to Auckland
You may recall my previous flights with Latam, from Johannesburg to São Paulo, onwards to Buenos Aires and thence to Santiago. I'd come to expect okay-ness. Which is fine. Safety most important and all that. Latam's obsession with queuing was much in evidence at SCL airport. The flight was boarding, but only for the 12,000 … Continue reading Flights: LA801 – SCL to AKL, Santiago to Auckland
Lounges: Avianca, SCL, Santiago, Chile
After the experience of the shonky Salon VIP, I hotfooted it to the other big lounge at Santiago airport, Avianca. This was a relief! It was fairly quiet when I arrived, and had good service and options! What else could you ask for! There were plenty of non-alcoholic drinks should you feel so inclined. The … Continue reading Lounges: Avianca, SCL, Santiago, Chile
Chile: Earthquake Alert!
It's a couple of weeks since I left Chile and the memory of all the earthquakes is still fresh in my mind! If you live in a bit of the world that shakes, shudders and schleps around, the whining of a random Irish man about earthquakes will be irksome. But where I come from, the … Continue reading Chile: Earthquake Alert!
