Crabs and Shells and Sails

We are now in Sydney (for one night)!  We went to the airport this morning and the crabbiest desk clerk at Qantas.  She told us that we are only allowed one carry on and that our backpacks did not count as handbags (even though I told her that is what I use mine for).  Every other flight (including the Qantas flight from LA to Auckland)  allowed us a large carry on (as long as it fit size and weight requirements) to go in the upper bin and a small carry on that fit under the seat in front of us.  But she said (quite rudely) “this is New Zealand.”  Wouldn’t one think that the rules an airline uses would be the same for all of it’s flights, wherever they came from?  So we had to check our bags which is a hassle (and put up with a rude desk clerk who never smiled).  Then we passed through customs to leave New Zealand (that seemed weird to us too), then through Australian customs when we arrived in Sydney.  We had brought sandwiches and apples to eat on the plane, but they served us so much food we didn’t need them.  Well, we didn’t declare that we had food on our cards, but Joshua mentioned to the person that checks bags that he had a sandwich when she asked us.  So she ended up hand checking all 10 of our bags (every single pocket very carefully), thoroughly washing out Annie’s shells, and confiscating our sandwiches, apples, and a flower petal Annie was drying in a book.  Then she took us to task for not claiming those on our cards--we seriously didn’t think they were a problem, and pointed out where we should claim those things in the future.  

On the flight they offered us either penne pasta or lamb for lunch (with salad, bread, a mint, water, drink, and tea/coffee), then an ice cream bar, then offered glasses of juice, then brought around water.  All in a three hour flight!  

Once in Sydney (after we escaped the bio-police), we took the train and walked to our apartment to meet with the manager.  He agreed to allow us to stay here for one night for the deposit we already paid.  We then walked down to the harbor to look at the opera house, and the downtown skyline, take pictures, and generally walk around.  Elizabeth Street (after the Queen) is lined on one side with parks (including James park and Hyde Park (just like London!)--very pretty and nice to walk in.  Takeaway pizza for dinner and a trip to 7-11 to get cereal for breakfast.

Tomorrow we fly out bright and early for the Outback!