We leave and arrive to leave

It seemed surreal as we drove to the airport on Monday - it takes a while to realise you are actually going , after all the months of planning. But off we went, and the first evening over the red centre of Australia saw the most glorious sunset - stripes of dark blue and purple blending to crimson and red and pink and gold, as if repeating the colours of ochre and gold and red of the sand and desert beneath. It was a magnificent display. The flight itself was quite rough, with the crew having to cease service every so often.

Australians grow up knowing we have to travel a long way just to leave the shores to the north, and the time never gets shorter.Bangkok came and went in a fog of lack of sleep and that weird disorientation that comes with a long period of travel. We left the lounge for the Copenhagen flight with half an hour to spare - the terminal is so long : though we left with the flight listed as 'open', by the time we made the gate 25 minutes later, it was on 'final call', and we don't walk slowly.

Some sleep was had and we had terrific seats and staff, so Copenhagen appeared below us. It has rained all day, but we managed to negotiate the train system to get to the hotel on our own , and also a 20 minute train trip across the huge bridge to Malmo in Sweden. Copenhagen is looking rather tried in places but perhaps the weather doesnt help. Cyclists rule the roads it seems, the city is quite flat so it makes sense.

We walked past (and undernearth) the Royal Library/ The road literally passes under one of the reading areas and some of the walokways between the two buildings. It is very modern design and overlooks the main canal.


So the first day has been had, and we are about to meet our new home for the next two weeks. The ship will be in on Thursday, so we move from the air to track, to water, and hope for fair weather.


More soon.