Finally! We're here.

After 36 hours of traveling, we are sitting in our hotel room in Sydney, Australia.  The first leg of the trip was from Ottawa to Vancouver.  We left at 7:00 in the morning, flew over clouds all the way but the clouds broke open over the Rocky Mountains.

Our day in the Vancouver airport was very pleasant because we were able to check out both the domestic and the international Maple Leaf Lounges with free food and drink while watching planes come and go.  At 5:30 in the afternoon, we boarded our beautiful Air New Zealand plane.  Although the service in business class on Air Canada was much better than coach, being greeted in your own private "pod" with a glass of champagne is even better.

I then moved on to a bold red, "Man O' War", while Jack, of course, opted for beer.

Sleeping stretched out flat in the pod was comfortable, but for some of our claustrophobic friends, it might feel a little too much like a coffin.  After 14 hours of drinks, meals, snacks, movies and naps, we arrived in Auckland.
Only a two hour wait this time, then back on the plane to Sidney.  Our first view shows why Sidney is known for its beautiful beaches.  Tomorrow we start to explore some of them.