Thanks for sharing your trip report, Moomba. I really enjoyed it.

On the subject of hiccups, the last time I had them, my friend recommended that I drink a whole can of coke really fast, saying that it always works for her. It worked for me also but my tummy felt really weird for a while. I think the burps outcompete the hiccups. Given Moomba's proclivity for bubbly, perhaps he can try this with champagne.