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.
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!!!
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