Travelling to London Friday 4th April.

We were off to an early start and flew out of Hervey Bay at 6.45.  The lady at the Qantas desk checked our luggage all the way through to Istanbul.   We did wonder if we would ever see it again.

We had some hours to spend at the Qantas Business Lounge,  and had breakfast and morning tea.  Then their appeared a flight to Sydney with BA and Qanta s at 11.30, only when I had checked two weeks ago to see if we could change the flight, that one was not even listed. So then a check with staff and we learnt that our flight was delayed for 30 minutes.   But some of the anguish about our flights was soon over the flight was called on time, and off we went.

Arrived in a stormy Sydney. Bus over to the International terminal and off to find the lounge which was close to the departure gate.  Funny our flight was not on the Qantas board!  So down we go, into the plane and low and behold we were stepping inside a British Airways plane, from cabin crew to  logos, everything was BA except the Kangaroo on the tail.

We had an enjoyable flight, thought the seating arrangements a bit strange, John was reverse facing, not a great way to face on takeoff.  Great meal, and my first try of duck.  We arrived in Singapore,  and watched the movies on the way.

Then a quick walk around the terminal to check some prices, electronics dearer, makeup cheaper. Then our 13 hour flight started with fillet steak!  Managed to sleep, watch movies and read, and we arrived in London at 5.45 am.  Beautiful clear sky but with a front coming across and the camera up in the storage rack.

Heathrow is huge.  John got body scanned along the way, and finally to the lounge and a shower. By this time we had been travelling I think 36 hours.  Breakfast and a quick read of the newspaper,  or maybe the scandal sheet, and then time to join a huge crowd to Istanbul.

We were fast tracked through immigration and went where they said, but that was the wrong queue.  Finally to collect our luggage, had to wait some time for that, and all I need the open, so if raining the luggage gets wet.  Our luggage had been tampered with, a lock drilled out, and zippers undone one broken and a lug pulled from a suitcase. They didn't get anything thank goodness.

And onto customs. Well that was a non event. Nobody on the declare row, nobody bothering to check on Nothing to declare, so I asked and showed our medications. Oh good, no problem,  unbelievable,  for those of us used to security.

Long drive to Istanbul, my I pression,  lots of tulips, lots of dismal buildings, and lots of black clothing!