I know that this thread will spark limited interest. Though I think it only too fitting to pay tribute to the towns and cities that have hosted (put up with) the high-jinx of the 717 crew.
Let's just call it part of my coping mechanism!
Rockhampton
Australia's Beef Capital! Goodbye US Marines. Goodbye Karoke at the JungleBar. Goodbye Hooters. Goodbye 3pound steaks at the Cambridge. I will sadly miss doing the headcount at ROK. When I reported it to the Purser I would always say "60 plus 38." They would say "38 infants?!" and I would reply "No... 38 mullets!"
She's Great in the Galley -
Please please please tell us more about your "Room Party". Please!
Mackay
Who could forget those tranquil walks along the crocodile infested beach (mudflates) whilst being eaten alive by mosquitos and being attacked by evil magpies? "Ah, the serenity..." And the vile "Best in Mackay" coffee at The Coffee Club. I refered to it as "dirty water"
one day and the man/woman (was hard to tell!) knew exactly what I was after! And the bounty of bargain shopping that was 'Canelands'. (Made Melbourne shopping look like a street market in comparison
!)
She's Great in the Galley -
Do you remember the intimate fly-swatting lunch we shared at Pure 'n' Natural?
Hamilton Island
There was, of course, the elite few who managed to score a slip on Hammo. Not much to say except it was nice for a change. Though it was very hard for the girls to find a guy to hang with for the evening. All the eligible gentlemen had either just got off our flight or were due out on ours the next day! Never been? One of my pax summed it up beautifully - "Hammo? Yeh it's just like Bali but it's in Australia, hey?"
Brisbane
Remember dearly. Brisbane was my first ever overnight as Cabin Crew. It was with Impulse and I was 20. I strutted around the Hilton as if I owned the place. I went out drinking in the Valley and made sure everyone knew I was crew. I was in demand. I was the poo - take a big whiff! Looking back it was all rather embarrasing! I was recently single and found someone to shack up with. Oh it was all so glam. I was 20 and a Jet Hostess - watch out World! Pitty about the reality that set in the next day on my hung over 5 sectors. All the glamour of flying seemed to die after my first two weeks.
Newcastle
Vile! Always min rest. Trapped in your little stuffy coffin that is either too hot or too cold. Above a bottle shop and attached to an RSL. Vile and noisey! Lots of cupboard space, though?
Will miss the cockroaches dropping from the ceiling and the absence of wakeup calls ("Sorry I forgot..." from the creep at reception) leaving you running late for crew transport. Oh and we will all miss the guys that do the crew transport. They all drive at least double the speed limit, talking on their mobile, have two hours sleep a day and know more about our company than we do. And they all loved regailing us with their extensive medical histories too!
Launceston
The Country Club. So isolated it was like one of those rehab prisons! It had the farm animals and everything! I will miss socialising with the DJ crew (didn't happen too often but was fun when it did!) and getting chased by psychotic ducks. Will miss those lovely beds. With the extra mattress and the HUGE fluffy duvet. Not that we slept much with the bad plumbing. If someone needed to tinkle we all knew about it!
Hobart
Love Hobart. 50% discount on the already cheap prices at the Grand Chancellor (aka Cr@p Chancellor). One would immediately hum the theme to
Dynasty when entering those rooms. Those rancid bed sheets. You would peel them off with one finger they were so infested! And I know of few who walked barefoot on the carpet and lived to tell the tale. And who could forget the 'OH&S Restuarant' downstairs? The waitresses were all bitter as they didn't get jobs when the HBA Base opened. So they would go out of their way to make our dining experience a nightmare. No matter what our request it was declined on OH&S grounds! Amazing.
Hobart was the quiet acheiver in regards to 'out of control' evenings with the crew. It seems like such a peacful city. Many a torrid tale has come back from HBA trips (especially the five day ones!). I went out for a couple of drinks with a BNE girl back in 2001. I got back to the hotel at 1300! Never found the girl I went out with. Walked past her in the terminal about two months later. We hugged and cried. Neither of us remember too much and were so glad we both somehow made it back to the hotel independently!
With 42 crew in the bar every night the five day HBAs were bound to cause trouble!
Gold Coast
Sadly we haven't spent enough time at the Grande Mercure to bag it out. So will limited my critique to the Radisson. The furthest hotel from civilisation. Great if you played golf. That place was so boring! 30 hours at the hotel (nice rooms and restuarant) seemed to go forever! One did always get a great tan. And the all-you-can-drink Wine Buffet (!!) was just brilliant. Well - what I remember of it! Another issue was the Mini Bar staff that would want access to your room every hour on the hour from 0600 onwards. Out of control!
Melbourne
Lovely hotel and the Pillow Menu always intrigued me. I recall sharing the spa with two girls from my crew and a freighter pilot from Alaska. Interesting!
She's Great... -
Remember me getting kicked out of the bar for sitting / lying on the floor? What was that about!?
I know there are few Impulse crew on here... So does anyone else have any comments about the glamorous QFLink overnights in Australia's regional metropolis cities? Just thought it would be fun...