Chris and Paula Adkins saw us off in style at the Brisbane airport with the help of a couple of bottle of bubbles to help us sleep for the first 14 hours but either the seats have to improve, medications has to improve or more alcohol is needed or lastly we could fly Business Class.  The last one I feel will never eventuate so we will have to work on the other options.

Abu Dhabu was an eye opener.  It is a big airport with a smallish terminal.  You exit the planes onto buses which transports you to the terminal.  This is great if dry.  Guess what, it was raining incredibly hard when we landed and when we took swxazqoff there were parts of the strip that was flooded.  I am glad we were in the desert.

The other thing which was strange was being a minority.  You can understand how the Aboriginals feel.  You don’t need racism you just need to be out numbered to feel uncomfortable.  The Muslims were pleasant enough it was just that you were aware of different cultural norms.  You were even aware of this with the air hosties.  There was an air unease about them and only one was happy.

The second leg of the trip was great.

The trip from the airport was like the first trip in Vietnam.  The land is very harsh and the area we drove through was old and unkept.  (I felt at home).

Today is a free day for Louise and I and we have been told to stay out the centre of Rome as there will be riots.  Might pop in and have a cuppa with the Pope instead.