h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm getting quite excited now. I am flying to the US of A on Thursday this week (31/5 or 5/31 - I need the practice) for a big gathering in Atlanta, Georgia. There will be about 500 people, with and without intellectual disabilities, meeting up to have a good time and get to know one another better.
Even though it's a long plane journey we get there the same day as we leave, with Sydney being 14 hours ahead of Atlanta. It does, however, take us 2 days to come home.

I may or may not be on line so much while I am in the land of the free. By the way how much of "the free" am I allowed to bring back through customs?

Welcome to the neighbourhood! While you will be only 10 hours or so by car north of here, please forgive me if I do not come visit

>By the way how much of "the free" am I allowed to bring back through customs?<

Best to ask at your end before you come. I have known foreign visitors to arrive with totally empty suitcases with the intention of filling them before going home. We will let you leave with almost anything you like (explosives and firearms excepted, due to airline security) But the Aussies are sure to have their own rules on the other end. I would ask for a Customs card and instruction pamphlet before you leave. If you buy clothes and wear them here they may not count as an import, but it is best to check first.

There is a bit of an almost tropical system passing through Atlanta tonight and tomorrow, but it will be long gone before you arrive.

BTW Atlanta - Hartsfield Jackson Airport is one of the busiest in the world. around here we say you can not get to heaven without changing planes in Atlanta. You might like to watch the film "Gone With the Wind" for a little of the local history.



FS

If you arrive totally naked, you can buy clothes and not have to carry your old ones home, or throw them away

I think the Aussie customs are pretty strict compared to some (through watching Border Security ) but mostly with controlled substances and items of plant & animal origin.

Thanks for the advice. I may wear thongs to stop getting bits of stones and broken glass in my feet (thongs are footwear in Oz) and cut head, leg and arm holes in the biggest suitcase I can find. I will then blame others for my nakedness if they make me check in my luggage.

It's funny how everywhere claims to have the busiest airport. Heathrow does, Sydney does and now Atlanta does. The only stats I know are for Heathrow which has 80 million passengers per year capacity.

When there were plans for the huge 5th terminal it alone would have been the third largest airport in Europe.

That sounds very pervy: "Would you like to check in my luggage".

How do you manage getting through with all the miscellaneous stains on your vest?

I don't declare the stains on my vest. If anyone gets too close I scratch the one that has the odour of "my break started 7 minutes ago, let's get this fellow through so I can have a custard cream and a mug of sweet tea." That generally works.

Only one sleep left before I travel. Passport, ticket, visa waiver number, Australian exit form, vest... I think that's everything.

Pants! Don't forget your pants, Vestie!

My vest goes down to my ankles so nobody will notice. Unless I twirl around very fast.
*Checks itinerary*
0900, Whirling Dervish workshop
0930, Ice dancing class 101 spinning for beginners
1000, How not to lose your balance while standing on a turntable.

See, no problems there, thank goodness.

Okay.. I won't panic

And no standing Monroe-like on one of those air vents...

Well you've ruined the whole trip now!

Welcome to the U.S. of A.! Have you visited the Underground yet?

http://www.underground-atlanta.com/

I am sure you have already found out how ubiquitous the name "Peach Tree" is

Hope you enjoy your stay

FS

Thanks for the welcome FS!
I've been to the Martin Luther King center and taken about a million photos of it. I also did the guided tour round CNN, but I haven't been to the underground (unless you mean the Marta or the trains in the airport) and I haven't been to Coca Cola.
Weather has been lovely on the whole, though I think that may change over the week!
I think the Marriott Marquis Hotel, where I spent my first night is near to one of the Peach Tree streets.

Hi VB

The Atlanta Underground is actually the remains of the city that was burned during the American Civil War. The new city was built above the ruins of the old city. Several blocks of the old city below street level have been restored and are a nightclub / shopping district today.

Did you happen to notice a line of yellow/ beige handrail across the face of the Marriott Marquis Hotel? As I recall they are on the third or fourth floor. My company built them to my design

FS

Enjoy Atlanta Vestie, but watch out for the walkers

I haven't noticed hand rails or walkers... sorry to disappoint.

Back in Sydney now. 36 hours without sleep and I was done for. 16 hours sleep in one go seems to have sorted it... mostly. And getting quote of the day was just the icing on the cherrycake thingy.

Well done!


*rubs the sweet smell of success spot on the vest*