Even though the 21" of snow had melted before they left,
it was still cold enough that they were glad to leave.
So Brian picked up Neal around 12:30 p.m., on 19 March . . .
. . . off they went to Chicago's O'Hare Airport . . .
. . . to meet the rest of the dive group . . .
Far left standing are Doug & Peggy, with whom I traveled when I went to Cura‡ao with Brian.
Seated in yellow vest is Bob M; then Kayla & Ryan K (brother & sister, obscured) talking to Brian;
in the background behind Brian are seated Ann T, Lars R, (obscured) & Donna G and Jim T,
with whom I traveled to Utila last year;
foreground on right Jamie & Lori (we have two Lori's on this trip)
Showing obscured from previous shot: Ann T, Lars R & Donna G. talking with Jim T.
Information on The Republic of Fiji:
Fiji is an island country in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean
about 1,100 nautical miles (1,300 miles) northeast of New Zealand's North Island.
Its closest neighbours are Vanuatu to the west,
New Caledonia to the southwest,
New Zealand's Kermadec Islands to the southeast, Tonga to the east,
the Samoas and France's Wallis and Futuna to the northeast,
and Tuvalu to the north.
Fiji is an archipelago of more than 332 islands,
of which 110 are permanently inhabited, and more than 500 islets,
amounting to a total land area of about 18,300 square kilometres (7,100 sq miles).
The two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu,
account for 87% of the population of almost 860,000.
The capital and largest city, Suva, is on Viti Levu.
More information is HERE
19 MARCH:
Plane is late leaving ORD By over half an hour.
Plane is on hold; there MAY BE mechanical problem that requires changing airecraft.
20 MARCH:
Left over an hour late. In LAX; should be boarding soon.
Left LAX @ 1:45 a.m. Kenosha time.
Will land @ Nandi around 12:35pm WI time; 6 a.m. Saturday, Fiji time.
Once we clear immigration and customs with our bags,
we have a three-hour bus ride to the resort.
Fiji Airelines forced me to check my carryon because it was over weight(17kg),
but because I was a continuing AA passenger, they waived the $100 fee.
Hope that it's there when we land.
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