Nairobi....no schedule

Was so nice to sleep in this morning and know we didn't have a schedule...no airplanes...woohoo!! Breakfast is included with our hotel stay...I was still a bit tired but Denny went down and brought me a few things back...so nice to just chill. At least until the pounding started outside our balcony/coutroom door. We share a courtroom area with other rooms and it's being renovated so the hammers started a bit early...bad luck for us but still a day to relax.

We did absolutely nothing today....our first full day in Africa and we were all so whopped we stayed right at the hotel. We got some to-do things done and some email/internetting done, but not much else to speak of. I skipped breakfast, the rest went down for it and said it was good....I got some fruit and yogurt and orderd some soup for lunch....just a slow day and a day to rest my mouth.

We did finally go down for dinner....Shea got spaghetti,...looked normal. I got pasta Carbonara...was about like you might expect...

Mom got Tilapia....looked a bit different but she said it was really good.

Denny got Spring Chicken....something like a broasted chicken, also was good.

I also got a Butternut Squash soup which was ok....Shea got an Apple tart dessert with ice cream and Mom got some bread pudding....I think Shea did better than Mom, but both good. Denny kept asking for coffee....he never got it until after dinner...another lesson learned...they don't drink coffe WITH dinner, only AFTER...so they assumed that's what he wanted....now we know to be specific. So many odd little things. Tomorrow we check into the Boma hotel which is the "start" of our safari...they assumed we arrived on 9/1, and would be coming from the airport....we're glad we got here early and as Shea put it...we could have a hotel "staycation" to catch our breath. 

Off to bed and to see what tomorrow brings...we're thinking of heading to a mall, maybe a museum...who knows....good night all...

Africa here we come......

We've been planning this trip for almost a year and it's finally here.....but not without it's hiccups. Mom, Shea, Denny and I have been planning and looking so forward to this flight...but about 2 weeks ago Mom hurt her toe pretty bad and 4 days ago I had to have an emergency root canal...so, this trip has been hanging on by a thread....we made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare....Shea decided to go the backpack route....she was ready

We were ready to go and glad to see this.....

OK....not Business class, but Denny and I, and Mom and Shea, each had a row of 3....so we did ok.

....1st stop Johannesburg for 1 nite to catch our breath..then on to Nairobi where our 1st safari will start. We will be in 5 countries...Zambia, Zimbabwe, S. Africa, Botswana, and Kenya before our 3 week vacation ends....we have so much to look forward to..but 1st a 16-hr flight.....but we can do it....
The flight went well actually, yes, those last few hours got old but it was all worth it once we had our first glimpses of Africa.....from the air it looks like parts of the USA....brown and flat....but it was Africa...too cool. I was last here in 1978 and am anxious to see it again.

Looks very dry and barren....it IS very dry....all our noses are telling us that.

 Big city....JoBurg getting close to the ground.....

Some odd farming.....

Almost on the ground........

So...what's that water tower made of????

Got some big business here....it is a hustle bustle city....

Sunset off our right wing.....ok, so our first (and 2nd) sunsets were from airplanes....but we're here....looked pretty darn good to us.

 All these international tails were like a meeting of the United Nations.....wow...we're not in ATL anymore....

Welcome to Joburg.....South Africa....

Look like they have found a way to make use of  "poop gases"....hmmm.....smart, I suppose

Clearing customs was no biggy...our luggage was there and off we headed to find The City Lodge Tambo Hotel...now, that took a bit...it is sort of attached to the airport, and after some walking we found it...but it was a hoot. This is when we found our first "hustler"....many cities have them, but I have a feeling Africa may peg tourist worst than others. We asked one guy to verify our directions and the next thing we know he leads us all the way to the hotel elevator and then turned around with his hand out.....geez.....our first lesson. We got checked in and headed downstairs for an easy dinner. I ordered ..."chicken with mayo"...figuring it would be a grilled sandwich with mayo....WRONG..that's chicken salad here...and you just think that's potato chips...those are "crisps"....too funny, we will learn. Mom didn't want much to eat so she tried to order something off the appetizer menu. The waitress asked her why and she said she didn't want much and that could be her dinner....then the waitress said, but you don't want any dinner...and Mom said ... no, that will be fine. Well...that some how translated into Mother didn't want anything...so, we all shared with Mom and it all worked out....too funny...suppose they don't do "tapas" meals here!!

We all headed back to our rooms and were out by 10p....we slept ok until about 2am...then we were both awake for a while but did get a few more hrs sleep before the 7a alarm...we had to shower/dress and get downstairs for breakfast by 8a....we needed to leave by 9a. I accidentally booked the breakfast package, Shea didn't so she and Mom got to sleep an extra hour....I tried to canx it, but couldn't..oh well...it was really good and I was able to take Mom and Shea some fruit/meat/cheese to help them out....it was a buffet and very nice.

After breakfast we headed back to the airport for our flight to Nairobi, Kenya....our safari starts here on 9/2...so back on another plane for a 4hr ride. Our flt out of ATL was standby and we did good. Today is also standby on Kenya Airlines and we're hoping for the best...the flight was not until 12p but we got there in plenty of time to figure things out. We got back to the airport with no problems, and no hustlers, and were told the noon flt was full but check back at 1030...so we sat and watched Shea cover her backpack and rearrange things. It was too big to carry on so it had to be checked. Got that all settled and got back in line at 1030...WE MADE IT.....we all got seats and Denny and I even got to sit together in an exit row....life was looking good.

I entertained myself watching these "army dudes" wander the airport...loved their camo!!

After we had our seats and boarding cards we shopped a little....this was a cool shop...

These are ostrich eggs painted all kind of ways....

Denny was liking the hats...........

so much, he bought one.........now he's ready for the safari....

We got boarded and were even fed lunch....a beef something, small salad and a cake with raisins, not for me...but Mom liked it. They did a lovely coffee and tea service....big on hot drinks...think that's a hoot.

We all slept, read, played games and entertained ourselves...then finally something cool,

Mount Kilimanjaro out the window,,,,,wow is that cool....it's WAAAYYY above the clouds!!

So glad it was on my side of the plane......

And very soon we could see Kenya....

Not a good airplane sunset due to clouds, but our second sunset was from Kenya Airlines plane.....looking forward to a sunset from our camp.

We didn't have a hotel reserv for tonite and tomorrow nite because flying standby we didn't know if we'd even make it or when...so the challenge began. We had hoped to stay at the Boma...where we are already booked for 9/1. So after clearing customs which took forever....and fingerprints for only me..and $50 per person...we started trying to find some help. I'd been told there was a taxi stand outside where the Boma picked folks up....hummmm, must be well hidden. The lady at the INFO desk in baggage claim was NO HELP....so we headed outside to make something happen. Denny had gone ahead and...meet hustler #2....he was one of many that would book your hotel and take u there. I was VERY skeptical but we stuck with him. He called the Boma...I suppose, and was told they were full for tonite and tomorrow nite, but the Eka Hotel had rooms, who ever heard of them...but, We all agreed and we went for it...tired and ready to have a place to stay. They tried to tell us that would be an extra $20 taxi fare and I said....I don't think so....so we did get the ride for "free"....yeah right!! At $200/nite for 2 nites nothing was free....but we were in a nice place and were safe...much to be said for that. The Boma is close, and though we'd hoped to not have to pack up and move....we will...oh well. It was not a bad ride. They drive on the "wrong" side of the road, always odd to get used to and a reason we won't be driving ourselves!!!

Got checked in and headed down for some dinner....my mouth is still a bit tender so I ordered a waffle...thought you guys needed to see this...first one I ever got with ice cream on it....YUM-O!!

Maybe something new to try at home.....so low-cal....but at least I was not biting the inside of my cheek. The others got burgers and we were all happy. 

It had some honey on it too...drizzle on some chocolate syrup....mmmmmm

It was thin, but good....I'm hoping real soon I can handle steak!!

Right after we ordered a woman in the booth behind us turned around and said...I think I hear a southern accent....Mom laughed and said ..wow, yes, we're from Georgia. It was a couple that was from Texas that have lived here for 10yrs as missionaries. They lived about 1.5hrs away and had brought some folks to the airport. They said it was not safe to travel at night so they would head home in the morning. She even moved her parents here a few yrs ago...they love it and love the work they are doing. So glad God has folks like that, that feel the calling and can spread the word. 

Everyone enjoyed their meals, we paid and headed back to our rooms to fall into bed....

Yesterday we traveled 8434 miles to JNB...today we traveled 2920 kilometers (1814 miles) to Nairobi...we have changed time zones twice, spent approx 20hrs in the air and been in 2 African countries, used South African Rand and Kenya Shillings, remembered we are in the land where many don't use or believe in deodorant,learned a few new words and seen some cool views...we're pooped but happy, and we've only spent $86 per person in flights(spent more than that in hotels)...not too bad. 

We have agreed we will not call each others rooms before noon tomorrow!!! It will be a slow day...maybe do a little laundry....inter-neting, email...R and R....it's time to breathe, we made it!!!

Good night from Nairobi, Kenya.........now that's cool!!!

Henry B. Plant Museum....Saturday fun.......

Saturday outings with Dan and Cheryl are always fun....we had a Groupon to tour the Henry B. Plant Museum...was originally the Tampa Bay Hotel. So off we went...first a stop at Mazarro's for a snack and some things for the cooler for next week...then off to the museum.
Henry B. PLant started out as a cabin boy on a steamship....when the war came along and did financial damage to the steamship company he bought it...then we bought bankrupt railways and he was "the" railroad tycoon...then he built hotels that his RR would lead you too...pretty smart fella.

And....Mrs. Plant

This place was huge....and gorgeous, in its "prime" it was the place to go.

 Now ........

and then.....

The Grand Opening was...Feb 5, 1891

Here is the announcement...a little hard to read

This beautiful long and deep front porch was a great gathering place. In fact, while we were there a bridal party showed up to take some pictures....I'm sure that happens often.

The porch now..................................................and the porch back when if you can see the picture...

The frog and monkey are garden seats.....too funny.

You can see in the picture, there were plenty of gardens to sit in...

After you walk in each person gets a recording thing...u punch in the numbers that corespond to the item you are looking at and want to hear more about. It was very cool, and worked well.

You also had to wear this sticker...

This is called a grand hallway...was made the way it was for optimal light and for a cross breeze to blow if windows and doors were open. 

Many statues adorned the front porch and front entrance....just for decoration. The lady holding the is still holding the original light. It is lower voltage and was making a point of the nice electricity the hotel had. They didn't cover the bulbs in any rooms....why cover such a nice new invention!!!

An original guest registry...it cost between $2 and $5 to stay per night

He had Inns all over FL....Fort Myers, Punta Gorda.....but this was the biggest.

Items used on his railroad cars....

Items for his steamships.....

His steamships went to 3 different countries....

A typical bathroom, after the upgrades...originally the tile you see was all wood....including the tub.

It was a wood bowl with a copper insert. This was a step up with hot and cold running water.

People that worked at the hotel...

A payrol record....

They were very proud of the finials...

This piece can be seen in the picture... it is 3 panels that symbolize wine/women/and song....it was in the back of the Music Room where guests went for entertainment...

The original door to the music room....

Inside the music room...with a replica of the above panels on the wall. Note the balcony...we were told that if women went to the music room without an escort they had to sit in the balcony....the rules of yesteryear for women...too funny.

Women had many different activities they could engage in while men could hunt, fish....etc. If a woman wanted to, she could hunt and fish as well, but most didn't.

Original chairs and a photo of a woman heading up to the grand porch...

This is original carpeting from the hotel....note the lions. This carpet was originally made for royalty in England but they would not walk on the lions....so, Mr. Plant was able to get almost 7 miles of it for not a lot of money. Then he and Mrs. Plant went to Europe and bought 41 train car loads of furnishings for the hotel....amazing.

  

Dining was very special....lots of service and lots of dishes...

I'm not sure you can tell that each place setting has different China, this was just to show that every course was served on a different China....wow....just lovely.

A picture of the Grand Dining Hall set and ready to serve..

And another picture from 1926

This is how it looks today.....used by the college and called Fletcher Hall. It was a library for a while, but that changed.

Some dishes from the Hotel days....

Many different room types...The Parlor Suite was a 3 room suite and was the BEST in the hotel.

The music room, where if you didn't not bring someone to entertain you a private musician would be sent to your room...

The library room......

The fireplace in the bedroom...note the keyhole designs in the wood on either side of the mantle...this was a signature design throughout the hotel in windows and doorways.

 The beautiful bed in a lovely setting....

A nice closet for all the many changes of clothes....back them they changed clothes 3-4 times a day.

A lamp....wow!!!

This was an original piece that sat in the lobby.....with the picture of it in the lobby....

So fancy.....

This room displayed many of the sporting things available...

Shuffle board, crouqet, cards, just about anything

Some of the many people that visited The Tampa Bay Hotel

There was also a casino at one time, but it burnt down.

The "maid" setting in the chair is sitting outside the closet that held her cleaning supplies and it was right beside the staircase....easy access to the rooms upstairs since there was no elevator and the rooms were cleaned and "tended" to several times a day. In this hotel the ground floor was most expensive....no stairs to get to your room. 

I wandered through the museum for a long time...the guys got tired and moved to the main part of the hotel and waited....patiently....

Once in the main part you could go see the exisiting rooms....although a bit renovated for better use, still much like they were....A/C had been added though....whew.

A grand staircase...note the keyhole design around the mirror...

Even all the doorknobs were made in teardrop shapes, so they would feel nice in your hand...wow, so many details...

It was a delightful tour .....

The fountain has Henry Bradley Plant on it.....

Now it was time to got to   Edison's for dinner...

http://edison-tampa.com/

We tried this a few weeks ago to find out they were not open for lunch...so today we planned it for dinner. It was a most unusal dinner with the oddest flavors....like doughnut holes with prosciutto on them....odd, but good. Dan ordered all tapas...they all sounded good great. Cheryl got a wonderful fish and salad....Denny and I shared some appetizers and a salmon dinner...it was YUM-O!!!

I think we'll go back!!

What a fun day, so many things to do......