We started with a six-hour flight to LAX. There was a twelve hour layover from about 11am to 11pm. We didn't feel much like leaving the airport - why bother? We'd have to take our carry-on luggage and then have to go through security again...
However, I wasn't able to do online check-in for Fiji Airways for different reasons that were explained to me by different Fiji employees on the phone. Ultimately we had to exit the secure area and proceed to the ticket counter anyway - along with everyone else on our flight - for boarding passes. My carry-on suitcase was deemed too large for the airplane (despite fitting in the overhead compartment on Alaska Air just fine) so I had to do some quick repacking of my handbag for the rest of the journey.
I do have to say that despite Fiji Airways' iffy customer service on the phone, the flights themselves and air crew were fine. The LAX-NAD flight was about 11 hours. Dinner was served within the first hour which was good because by this time Hans was falling apart and uncomfortable in the aisle seat. I ordered a complimentary glass of wine and tossed it back. We switched seats so that Hans had the window. I snuggled down (as much as one can on an airplane) with my pillow, eye mask, and blanket. I think I may have gotten about 5.5 hours of sleep. For the remaining hours of the flight I watched a sappy movie and stood in the back of the plane.
We landed at 5:30 am local time in Fiji to the sight of a spectacular sunrise. The terminal itself was boring but there were lots of sofas so I stretched out to give my spine a break from standing/sitting.
The final flight to Christchurch was 4.5 hours and it was an exercise in torture because the most awful and disorganized family I've ever flown with took over two full rows right in front of us and had no control over the toddler and baby they had. It was completely crazy. I felt so bad for the flight crew. Grateful to have earplugs.
There was no trouble getting through customs. The immigration form asks specifically about outdoor equipment and shoes so we had to have our hiking boots inspected for any seeds that might be stuck to them.
I drove the rental car to the hostel - The Jailhouse! There were many jokes about only being in New Zealand a couple of hours and ending up in prison. The hostel occupies one cell block from an old prison. We have a private cell with a double bed and yet, it locks from the INSIDE. We immediately made use of the shower facilities to get the over 30-hours of road dust off. Feeling refreshed, we did a bid of unpacking before going out for a walk and dinner. I'll save the pictures of Christchurch for a later post. We had our first meal in New Zealand at a really nice bistro called Cook'n With Gas. By the time we left it was already dark so we pretty much stumbled into bed for the night. Cold, echoing cell block that it was, we slept like LOGS for the night.
Historic vs current cell interior
