The next two days, yes, TWO DAYS, are dedicated to getting me home. And we thought the journey here was rough. However, as exhausted, cranky, and upset as I was on the way here, I would totally do it again for the experience. And I thought I was done with big travel. Ha! I will however stay committed to paying more to shorten the journey.
Thinking about the next 41 hours makes me want to cry. Probably because I've been going for 10 days now with limited sleep, cold showers, and carb loaded food that comes on its own schedule. My body is in so much pain right now. Spending countless hours trying to sleep on buses in odd positions and on weird mattresses with a travel neck pillow... wow it hurts. However, as I think of the pain in my body I'm immediately humbled by the pain in all the children I saw. At least I had a pillow and mattress. It's hard to keep perspective when we live where we do.
Anyway, I arrive to the airport at 7am in the van. As we pull in I have to get out of the car while it is searched and walk through a metal detector on the side of the road. Then I get back in the car and proceed to the drop off.
Now I'm on my own.
I enter the airport and get into a huge line but there is no Kenya Airways check in... it's not like I missed it, there are maybe 4 check in counters. I ask around and learn that Kenya Airways had a crash last night so all flights were stopped. People from yesterday's flights are all still waiting so they haven't even bothered to open the check in counters. After about an hour they begin to check people in. No word on what to do about the flight. I checked in at 9:10, my flight was to leave at 9. Okay. I walk into the very tiny airport and look at the monitor: the flight isn't even listed. I find a man who tells me to go to gate 2. Ok. Through security, and sit. A man tells me the flight will arrive soon. I then learn from a lady that she has been here since 5pm yesterday!
I decide to leave the waiting room and attempt to make change to take bills home to my kids. It works nicely here bc they have small bills: 1,000 shillings is like 30 cents.
So I begin the process starting with 20,000 I buy a water and ask for small change. Shortly I realize that 1. Not many people have change and 2. There aren't enough cheap things for me to buy to make enough change.
I decided to hit every single store and try for small bills. It took about 40 minutes and a lot of begging and being turned down before I had 25 small bills. That last one was hard to find but I couldn't leave just one kid hanging.
By the way this is the first trip where absolutely no shopping happened and I loved that. I only bring back money from places I travel anyway: seems like a good investment.
After this I went back through security to the waiting area. Guess what? I'm finally on the plane. It's 11:30.
when I was preparing for the Kenya layover I was feeling really unsettled about it and promptings that I couldn't fully understand so I decided to wait until arriving in Kenya before booking a hotel or safari etc and boy I'm glad I listened! I wouldnhave been sad if I had paid a ton of money for safari or hotel and then didn't get to Kenya until... well... I'm not sure when we will get there.
Over and out.
Next stop: Kenya.
Thinking about the next 41 hours makes me want to cry. Probably because I've been going for 10 days now with limited sleep, cold showers, and carb loaded food that comes on its own schedule. My body is in so much pain right now. Spending countless hours trying to sleep on buses in odd positions and on weird mattresses with a travel neck pillow... wow it hurts. However, as I think of the pain in my body I'm immediately humbled by the pain in all the children I saw. At least I had a pillow and mattress. It's hard to keep perspective when we live where we do.
Anyway, I arrive to the airport at 7am in the van. As we pull in I have to get out of the car while it is searched and walk through a metal detector on the side of the road. Then I get back in the car and proceed to the drop off.
Now I'm on my own.
I enter the airport and get into a huge line but there is no Kenya Airways check in... it's not like I missed it, there are maybe 4 check in counters. I ask around and learn that Kenya Airways had a crash last night so all flights were stopped. People from yesterday's flights are all still waiting so they haven't even bothered to open the check in counters. After about an hour they begin to check people in. No word on what to do about the flight. I checked in at 9:10, my flight was to leave at 9. Okay. I walk into the very tiny airport and look at the monitor: the flight isn't even listed. I find a man who tells me to go to gate 2. Ok. Through security, and sit. A man tells me the flight will arrive soon. I then learn from a lady that she has been here since 5pm yesterday!
I decide to leave the waiting room and attempt to make change to take bills home to my kids. It works nicely here bc they have small bills: 1,000 shillings is like 30 cents.
So I begin the process starting with 20,000 I buy a water and ask for small change. Shortly I realize that 1. Not many people have change and 2. There aren't enough cheap things for me to buy to make enough change.
I decided to hit every single store and try for small bills. It took about 40 minutes and a lot of begging and being turned down before I had 25 small bills. That last one was hard to find but I couldn't leave just one kid hanging.
By the way this is the first trip where absolutely no shopping happened and I loved that. I only bring back money from places I travel anyway: seems like a good investment.
After this I went back through security to the waiting area. Guess what? I'm finally on the plane. It's 11:30.
when I was preparing for the Kenya layover I was feeling really unsettled about it and promptings that I couldn't fully understand so I decided to wait until arriving in Kenya before booking a hotel or safari etc and boy I'm glad I listened! I wouldnhave been sad if I had paid a ton of money for safari or hotel and then didn't get to Kenya until... well... I'm not sure when we will get there.
Over and out.
Next stop: Kenya.
Which is apparently Carl's Jr. and I don't eat that so yeah. Then I ran into creepy man again. Thank goodness for women's bathrooms. Just another great reason to have gender. Finally it came time To go to the gate. They do security weird here. You have to go through twice as if something bad will happen in the airport. They took away my water bottle. Lame. At 8:40 when the plane was to leave we began boarding.
10.5 hours here we go.
Next stop: dar salaam or something and then off to Zurich. I hope we aren't too late as I do plan to leave the airport in Zurich!
I might be back in a few hours if I start to lose it. Until then. Ciao.
10.5 hours here we go.
Next stop: dar salaam or something and then off to Zurich. I hope we aren't too late as I do plan to leave the airport in Zurich!
I might be back in a few hours if I start to lose it. Until then. Ciao.
It has been 10.5 hours. A screaming child. Seats that are in your lap. Knee and neck pain. I slept for a combined 2 hours of head nodding.
The sickness is starting to set in and I've been up for 26 hours. And the day before slept for a broken few hours in a bus.
I'm so tired.
Time for landing.
all I want to do is curl up on the floor and sleep but how many times are you in Zurich?
Praying I can hold myself together for a few hours.
The sickness is starting to set in and I've been up for 26 hours. And the day before slept for a broken few hours in a bus.
I'm so tired.
Time for landing.
all I want to do is curl up on the floor and sleep but how many times are you in Zurich?
Praying I can hold myself together for a few hours.
It's gorgeous here! I forgot how much I love Europe! The cobblestone streets, the churches, the architecture and the food! However it is 20 degrees. I have leggings and a zip up like yoga hoodie. Freezing. I didn't last long but my tour of old town Zurich was beautiful. I ended up in a book store with a $10 cup of hot chocolate, which I don't even like, but coming from 80-90 degree weather to this and I'm freezing my tush off. This is a great place for a stop over by the way. The train to downtown is literally in the airport. It's only 15 minutes away so even if your layover is short you can visit Zurich for a bit. Took me about 40 min though to figure out how to get back to the airport. The train station is massive. I also look homeless. So there's that. Europe! I must come back for you! Just love this continent!
Also talk about a stark contrast from Uganda. Red clay roads and huts to cobblestone streets and grand architecture. Side of the road cows and butcher shops to bakeries and coffe shops. People in dirty and tattered clothes to Gucci. Literally one of the poorest countries to one of the richest in the world. Yowza.
Also talk about a stark contrast from Uganda. Red clay roads and huts to cobblestone streets and grand architecture. Side of the road cows and butcher shops to bakeries and coffe shops. People in dirty and tattered clothes to Gucci. Literally one of the poorest countries to one of the richest in the world. Yowza.
There is no one in the middle seat. I repeat there is no one in the middle seat! Hallelujah we have space! Now let's hope the man on the aisle doesn't mind that I'm totally going to lay down and get close. I'm sure he'll understand. For now a rest up and legs on the free seat. Movie time while waiting for lunch.
Ice cream!
A nap!
Pizza!
haha. This has been the best flight of all but 12.5 hours and I didn't leave my seat once. I can't really feel my butt. Hopefully when the time comes I can stand, and find a bathroom!
Now, time to land, go through customs, wait for the bus, take the bus through traffic, get my car and drive home!
Bed... you are so close. I cannot wait!
AMERICA!
Ice cream!
A nap!
Pizza!
haha. This has been the best flight of all but 12.5 hours and I didn't leave my seat once. I can't really feel my butt. Hopefully when the time comes I can stand, and find a bathroom!
Now, time to land, go through customs, wait for the bus, take the bus through traffic, get my car and drive home!
Bed... you are so close. I cannot wait!
AMERICA!
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