The day has arrived – departure day! Rio here I come. I’m sitting at the airport; checked in way too early, but I hate nothing more than any last-minute panics. First stop is Auckland, then on to Buenos Aires and then Rio.
Thanks to Airpoints, I’ve applied for a free upgrade on the Auckland to BA leg, but won’t find out until just before we board whether it has come through or not. Please keep your fingers crossed for me! Many of the Fairfax reporters were supposed to be on that flight as well, but I can’t imagine that their absence will result in more business class seats being available.
I’ve packed carefully and my bag is under 20kg, so I’m pleased with that effort. Carry-on luggage is also well under. I doubt I will have much time for shopping, but then there is that stop-off in Buenos Aires on the way home …
One of the hardest parts of travelling is leaving all my animal family. My dogs get all sad when I get my suitcase out, and won’t leave my side, which doesn’t always make it easy for packing. I didn’t think my cats really cared, but perhaps they do. Perhaps it was the thought of not having me around for the next month that made my oldest cat chunder all over my bed not long before I left. Thanks dude… but at least it wasn’t on anything ready to be packed. As to the outdoor tribe, they were not interested in cuddles and goodbyes, they just spent the time trying to get me to let them into another paddock.
I’m feeling very curious as to what all the facilities will be like. While there have been numerous photos of the athletes’ digs, I have yet to see anything of the media accommodation at Deodoro. It’s a converted military barracks; I have visions in my head that I’m hoping won’t be anything like the reality. But as long as it is clean and secure, and there aren’t communal showers, I’ll be happy. I doubt there will be lots of time spent there anyway.
From what the grooms have said, it sounds like the horses are well accommodated and the facilities are impressive. By the time I get there, the riders will all be there too, as well as photographer Libby Law and fellow NZ journalist Di Dobson, so I’m looking forward to catching up with them all!
Stand by for reports from Rio! And if you have any influence on who gets upgrades with Air New Zealand, please act now!
And while I wait, I might do a bit of pacing to build up those steps so I can get on the plane with 10,000 for the day, as I can’t imagine I will get many on the clock in the next 24 hours.
Oh and good news, it sounds like Hunt for the Wilderpeople is being shown by Air New Zealand on their international flights! Awesome!
