An Arresting Situation...!

Greeting friends! I type this missive from the desk of my Viennese Hotel. My head is bent in an effort to avoid it touching the ceiling in this corner of the room. We are on the top floor of this hotel (7th floor) and the roof slopes sharply... I feel as if I'm only getting half of the room that is being paid for...!

I had wished to write earlier, however, it is without a word of a lie that I say that it has been a whirlwind trip. Having left Adelaide to make our way to Sydney, Todd and I were very lucky to have a smooth if rushed transfer at Sydney airport. We barely had time to make it to the bathroom before we had to get to the international terminal, and then onto our flight.

The journey to Singapore was without incident, although it seems that all you do on these long haul flights is just EAT CONSTANTLY! Before you've finished one meal, you virtually have another in front of you. Once we arrived in Singapore, we again barely had time for a quick shower and a drink and then we were off again.

Upon arriving in Frankfurt, we had to collect our luggage and check in again in order to catch the flight to Vienna. This, my friends, is where yours truly once again, almost achieved Shapelle Corby-esque fame.

Having passed through the security screening point, I was mildly disturbed to find that my bag had not been so successful. After having indicated to the attendant it was my bag, I attempted to converse with the female security officer (with only limited success). She conveyed that she needed me to follow her so we could put the bag through 'special tests'. I started to be a little concerned when she led me away down a corridor. I turned to tell Todd that I would be back shortly, when it hit me...

This was the moment, I thought. The moment in which I was to be dragged away forever, never to be seen or heard from again, except as I wailed and begged for mercy from some 3rd world jail cell. I determined that I would hold my head high. I would approach my fate with dignity and the knowledge that I was innocent of whatever crime they were about to accuse me of.

I would not rot in a 3rd world jail cell trading my new sneakers for some toilet paper.

Of course, this being Germany and all... I suppose in hindsight that was unlikely to happen.

I promptly lost my dignity when they pulled out my sleep breathing machine and asked "Was is das?" (or something like that...) and I of course had to explain the purpose of the machine was to help me breathe whilst sleeping. Both security personell who were now present had a bit of a giggle and started talking about "schlafen" which I'm sure is some sort of slur against my people.

Luckily all was resolved and I once again escaped by the narrowest of margins.

I was mildly amused to discover a "Camel Smoking Zone". This was a glass room specifically dedicated to those who desperately needed a cigarette whilst in the non-smoking surrounds of Frankfurt airport. Of course, Todd couldn't wait to try it out...

Todd trying out the "Camel Smoke Zone"

Me - thrilled to have narrowly escaped arrest!

Today, Todd and I arrived in Vienna. We flew Niki Airlines and it turned out that the pilot was Niki Louda (famous F1 driver and founder of the airline!) When the chief flight attendant (who looked about 12 and wore jeans - apparently it's part of the uniform) announced this, there was a murmur that went around the cabin and everyone felt the buzz. I of course had to turn to Todd and ask "Who is Niki Louda?"

We were a little early checking into our hotel, and were told to come back later. We found a small pub/cafe down the street and decided to stop for a coffee. (I think Todd was starting to experience withdrawl). As soon as we walked in, the seven or so people at the bar all stopped talking and just looked at us.

If you're trying to picture this moment, imagine that Todd and I were like cowboys in a western. As soon as we walked in, the piano guy stops playing, all the patrons stop talking and just look at the new comers.

Now, if this was a real Western, I would've said something way cool, like "we don't want no trouble here folks... just passin' through." Of course, I decided to go with the far more witty and un-cliche "Hello!"

I was promptly left standing by myself drawing everyone's attention as Todd did the sensible thing and simply sat down... Hindsight, they do say, is a wonderful thing.