February 17 and 18

February 17, 2014

Lisa and I met in Detroit for our journey to Africa. We Flew overnight to Amsterdam, which was about a 71/2 hour trip. We had a couple of hour layover and then to the gate for Kilimanjaro. In Amsterdam security is very tight and you may not enter the gate are for your flight (which is a separate room for each gate) until one hour prior to take off. The room is most thoroughly searched by security (even into and under garbage cans) and you undergo another security screening complete with pat down before you enter. The flight to Kilimanjaro is in daytime and takes 81/2 hours. Long flight. The only excitement on there was when a drunk lady fell on me when she boarded. KLM flight attendants handled that situation discreetly and professionally.
Arrival in Tanzania was quick as they deplane from both ends of the aircraft. Lisa gave me the tip book to the right at immigration for the visa line. You can procure your visa before you leave the US by FedExing your passport to a place in Washington and receive it back for $150. You can purchase it in TZ for $50 upon landing. It was quick and I beat Lisa to the immigration kiosks. (We turn everything into a game.)
A car and driver (sort of a private taxi) drove us the hour ride to Lisa and Matt's house . It was about 11 when we arrived there on Tuesday night.
Tough to adjust to a sleep schedule that first night, so I'd say I had maybe 21/2 hours of sleep.
Made Wednesday kind of a slow day. It was nice to be awakened by three very happy kids.
Lazy day.