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28th December
We rose at 5:30 to set off for Canada. I showered and shaved so as not to look like a hobo or any other character that may arouse suspicion and we caught the 6:30 shuttle to LAX. I'm pretty certain that I passed through airport security but was let down by Nic, who didn't shave for the occasion and must have aroused suspicion. Subsequently the whole family got the 'special treatment' at LAX. It fell short of the full strip search, but - yes, rubber gloves and buzzing metal rods were involved. Swabs were taken from our boots, bags and bits before we were declared safe enough to ship off to Canada.
Later that day:
As we fly over the centre of the US and we gaze out the window Nic and I can see everything covered in a crisp blanket of snow. It looks very picturesque and inviting (and not too cold) and I'm hoping that the Canadian snow is equally as benign and friendly. The weather forecasts we've tuned into over the past week have reported huge dumps of snow over the north of the US, of plane delays, highway crashes and a dozen or more deaths.
The flight did get a little bumpier as we approached Cleveland and then a lot more bumpy in the relatively short leg between Clevelend and Toronto where we flew in a much smaller plane and Mar was able to savour every pocket of turbulence. Fortunately the seats are sturdy and her claw mark imprints may possibly fade from them in time. The flight wasn’t too long but the wait for a set of stairs to get us out of our cramped little plane was. All the while we were feeling for the Artymkos waiting patiently in the arrivals lounge.
And while we had a torrid time in the cabin our luggage had an even worse time. One suitcase in particular looked like it had been used for tackle practice by the whole defensive team of the New England Patriots. We took our bags to the Continental baggage claim desk who duly informed us that zipper damage was not covered by their insurance policy. When it was pointed out that the case was barely held together by the remaining straps they conceded that we ought to take them in to their repairer in downtown Toronto. When they finish with our cases I believe their next assignment will be in Iraq to make appropriate repairs there as well.
After lengthy delays through immigration (must've been my inner hobo) and baggage claims we were greeted at the arrival area by my long lost twin, John Artymko and his family. [John is the good looking, mild mannered twin with glasses. I'm the one who looks like a vagrant.] Susan, Rachel and Natalie as well as Susan's father Roger were a welcome sight.
They then drove us to my mother's cousin's home for the typical Croatian midnight greeting replete with homebaked food and ample drinks for young and old. We tried to meet and greet all and sundry at rapidfire pace, well aware that the Artymkos would have to soon leave and fly out the next day. We didn't get nearly enough time with them. We certainly appreciated their thoughtfulness and generosity, they were real lifesavers. It was evident in our brief encounters with the Artymkos (and Roger, Susan's dad) that they are pretty special people and we're so pleased to be able to share our home, our school and our friends with them. We know our place will be in safe hands and that they will also be in safe hands during their stay in Batemans Bay.
We rose at 5:30 to set off for Canada. I showered and shaved so as not to look like a hobo or any other character that may arouse suspicion and we caught the 6:30 shuttle to LAX. I'm pretty certain that I passed through airport security but was let down by Nic, who didn't shave for the occasion and must have aroused suspicion. Subsequently the whole family got the 'special treatment' at LAX. It fell short of the full strip search, but - yes, rubber gloves and buzzing metal rods were involved. Swabs were taken from our boots, bags and bits before we were declared safe enough to ship off to Canada.
Later that day:
As we fly over the centre of the US and we gaze out the window Nic and I can see everything covered in a crisp blanket of snow. It looks very picturesque and inviting (and not too cold) and I'm hoping that the Canadian snow is equally as benign and friendly. The weather forecasts we've tuned into over the past week have reported huge dumps of snow over the north of the US, of plane delays, highway crashes and a dozen or more deaths.
The flight did get a little bumpier as we approached Cleveland and then a lot more bumpy in the relatively short leg between Clevelend and Toronto where we flew in a much smaller plane and Mar was able to savour every pocket of turbulence. Fortunately the seats are sturdy and her claw mark imprints may possibly fade from them in time. The flight wasn’t too long but the wait for a set of stairs to get us out of our cramped little plane was. All the while we were feeling for the Artymkos waiting patiently in the arrivals lounge.
And while we had a torrid time in the cabin our luggage had an even worse time. One suitcase in particular looked like it had been used for tackle practice by the whole defensive team of the New England Patriots. We took our bags to the Continental baggage claim desk who duly informed us that zipper damage was not covered by their insurance policy. When it was pointed out that the case was barely held together by the remaining straps they conceded that we ought to take them in to their repairer in downtown Toronto. When they finish with our cases I believe their next assignment will be in Iraq to make appropriate repairs there as well.
After lengthy delays through immigration (must've been my inner hobo) and baggage claims we were greeted at the arrival area by my long lost twin, John Artymko and his family. [John is the good looking, mild mannered twin with glasses. I'm the one who looks like a vagrant.] Susan, Rachel and Natalie as well as Susan's father Roger were a welcome sight.
They then drove us to my mother's cousin's home for the typical Croatian midnight greeting replete with homebaked food and ample drinks for young and old. We tried to meet and greet all and sundry at rapidfire pace, well aware that the Artymkos would have to soon leave and fly out the next day. We didn't get nearly enough time with them. We certainly appreciated their thoughtfulness and generosity, they were real lifesavers. It was evident in our brief encounters with the Artymkos (and Roger, Susan's dad) that they are pretty special people and we're so pleased to be able to share our home, our school and our friends with them. We know our place will be in safe hands and that they will also be in safe hands during their stay in Batemans Bay.
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