Africa (at last)
Since I have not posted since January, I'm sure many of you thought I was dead. The truth is that I tend not to journal (which this blog becomes) unless I have something new and exciting going on. Well, I am sitting in the ZigZag Hotel in Livingstone, Zambia recovering from the longest flight I can imagine. Let me document how it all developed.
Several weeks ago, Beckie asked me if I was interested in going to Zambia the end of June and the beginning of July. My schedule allowed it and the next day Beckie, Sara and I had tickets to travel to Zambia and scout out the future communication sciences and disorders offerings here for our graduate students. After several weeks of frantic planning (and shots) we left Little Rock on Monday headed this direction. We left Atlanta Monday afternoon for Johannesburg, South Africa via Dakar, Senegal. The total flight was listed as 18 and a half hours with a 90 minute stop in Senegal to refuel and be inspected. This occurred at 4:30AM and we were not allowed off the plane but were instructed to keep out of the aisles and out of the way of the inspectors and cleaners. That was an adventure.
We arrived in Jo'burg yesterday afternoon and discovered that our bags had been sent on to Zambia. As we left the baggage area we were met by a man holding up Africa Center signs with our names (our ride to our hotel). It was great, with an Africa theme, but felt a lot like a major American city. We were exhausted and went to bed right after supper. This morning they took us back to the Jo'burg airport. By the way, it has GREAT shops.
After a short South African Airways flight we landed in Livingstone, Zambia. This is what I expected Africa to be like. Our luggage was waiting and we went to the Avis office and rented a car. Unfortunately, the left window wouldn't raise or lower and dropped all the way down as we drove out of the airport. We returned and asked for another. The man closed the office and drove us into Livingstone but another car wasn't available. He brought us on to the ZigZag Hotel and brought a car later. We walked to a local shopping center and bought some snacks and water and came back to the hotel for supper. I'll post photos and details later.
Several weeks ago, Beckie asked me if I was interested in going to Zambia the end of June and the beginning of July. My schedule allowed it and the next day Beckie, Sara and I had tickets to travel to Zambia and scout out the future communication sciences and disorders offerings here for our graduate students. After several weeks of frantic planning (and shots) we left Little Rock on Monday headed this direction. We left Atlanta Monday afternoon for Johannesburg, South Africa via Dakar, Senegal. The total flight was listed as 18 and a half hours with a 90 minute stop in Senegal to refuel and be inspected. This occurred at 4:30AM and we were not allowed off the plane but were instructed to keep out of the aisles and out of the way of the inspectors and cleaners. That was an adventure.
We arrived in Jo'burg yesterday afternoon and discovered that our bags had been sent on to Zambia. As we left the baggage area we were met by a man holding up Africa Center signs with our names (our ride to our hotel). It was great, with an Africa theme, but felt a lot like a major American city. We were exhausted and went to bed right after supper. This morning they took us back to the Jo'burg airport. By the way, it has GREAT shops.
After a short South African Airways flight we landed in Livingstone, Zambia. This is what I expected Africa to be like. Our luggage was waiting and we went to the Avis office and rented a car. Unfortunately, the left window wouldn't raise or lower and dropped all the way down as we drove out of the airport. We returned and asked for another. The man closed the office and drove us into Livingstone but another car wasn't available. He brought us on to the ZigZag Hotel and brought a car later. We walked to a local shopping center and bought some snacks and water and came back to the hotel for supper. I'll post photos and details later.
posted by DCT | Wednesday, June 25, 2008
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