Flight #2

We made it. About 26 hours door-to-door, and we are here! Looking like something the cat dragged in, as my grandmother would say, but we are here!

Flight #2 was long. Really long. But a couple of Gravol helped me get a few hours of sleep and wake up in enough time to marvel at the vast Sahara as we flew over. I wonder how big and tall the sand dunes must be to be visible from 35,000 feet. The sand seems to go on and on, with the hues varying from, well, "sandy" beige, to rosy, to black in some places. You can see the patterns the wind has carved, and not much else. Vast, unending and seemingly empty from my vantage point. Marvellous.

Clouds moved in as we went south, but the nifty travel map was up on the screen and I could follow along as we passed just west of Khartoum and just east of Darfur - horrible to think what is going on far below and out of sight. The sun set around 6:30 I think - this seems early, but I am reminded that we are on the equator, so the sunlight is pretty much 6am-6pm every day of the year.

The captain announced our descent none too soon, for I had had about enough of my seat mate, who was the kind of person who hogs the arm rest, doesn't sit still, and elbows you from time to time. She even woke me up (woke me up!) to ask if I wanted dinner. Sheesh.

Culture shock hit quickly in Entebbe airport as we waited four different times for four different reasons. First to have a "health screening", because clearly my name and address and signature verify that I am healthy and ok to enter the country. Second to go through immigration. Third to get our luggage. Fourth to get packed into our welcome wagon.

And what a lovely welcome! Goretti lead the team who welcomed us with open arms and smiles and gift bags, and proudly pointed out all the beautiful changes in Kampala and surroundings since the team's last visit in 2007. I noted dozens of little campfires lining the road and discovered that many people walk home from work, and along the way they can stop and buy their supper and sit by little fires to share a meal with friends. It was quite beautiful!

Not much else was visible, and my jet lag was causing me to nod off en route to our hotel. But here we are, all checked in and I am heading to bed for a good sleep. Tomorrow I hope to get out and see some things and take some pictures, and so post something a little more interesting!

Until then... g'night.