January 8, 2007 (Johannesburg Airport)
So—we made it to Africa—but not exactly where we planned. When we arrived at Kennedy in plenty of time with what we thought were confirmed seats from NY to Zurich to Nairobi (16 hours total), we were told that the flight was overbooked and we had been re-routed to Nairobi via Dakar (Senegal) and Johannesburg. For the geographically challenged among you (and I was one of those until I got out our pocket atlas), that is somewhat like flying LA-NY via Panama.
So we arrived in Jo'burg after a 19 hour journey, only to wait 4 hours for the airport for the Kenya Air staff to show up and then figure out just what kind of mess that Swiss Air had created for us (whatever happened to Swiss efficiency?). We weaseled ourselves into the Premier lounge for another 4 hour wait, created make-shift beds for the kids to rest before our next 4 hour flight, 6 hour layover and 2 hour flight to Kilimanjaro where we should be picked up by the Safari company. We were supposed to stay a night in Nairobi, but we missed that completely. In other words, traveled enough to have completely circumnavigated the globe when we were barely two days into our six month trip. Fortunately—or unfortunately—we checked our luggage through to Nairobi so we have been relatively unencumbered during our stay in the Jo'burg airport. retrieving it, and were pleasantly surprised when it showed up in Nairobi.
So—we made it to Africa—but not exactly where we planned. When we arrived at Kennedy in plenty of time with what we thought were confirmed seats from NY to Zurich to Nairobi (16 hours total), we were told that the flight was overbooked and we had been re-routed to Nairobi via Dakar (Senegal) and Johannesburg. For the geographically challenged among you (and I was one of those until I got out our pocket atlas), that is somewhat like flying LA-NY via Panama.
So we arrived in Jo'burg after a 19 hour journey, only to wait 4 hours for the airport for the Kenya Air staff to show up and then figure out just what kind of mess that Swiss Air had created for us (whatever happened to Swiss efficiency?). We weaseled ourselves into the Premier lounge for another 4 hour wait, created make-shift beds for the kids to rest before our next 4 hour flight, 6 hour layover and 2 hour flight to Kilimanjaro where we should be picked up by the Safari company. We were supposed to stay a night in Nairobi, but we missed that completely. In other words, traveled enough to have completely circumnavigated the globe when we were barely two days into our six month trip. Fortunately—or unfortunately—we checked our luggage through to Nairobi so we have been relatively unencumbered during our stay in the Jo'burg airport. retrieving it, and were pleasantly surprised when it showed up in Nairobi.
The kids were absolutely remarkable on no sleep and stressful travel—though they quickly seized upon the opportunity to repeatedly inquire as to why we have decided to take them on this trip and blackmail us into endless amounts of sodas and candy. Short of a few well deserved whines during the challenging journey, they were total troopers. In fact, we have all been in reasonably good humor and know this is just part of traveling.
So—we are healthy and safe, if tired, and ready for the real adventure to start.
1 comment:
Youn are an incredible writer!
we are reading all of this in bed early in pajamas still an imagining the colors and smells, Bianca is asking if we ever will get to go, and my answer was shamefully simple, ...only if Motel 6 and Starbucks are around..., seriously, we want to hear more, we are so jealous!!
take care and write!
love
Mariel and the rest
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