Journey to South Africa

Every journey has a story, indeed is a story, and the beginning of a journey is a story unto itself. Here is the story of the beginning of our journey.

 

On Tuesday, May 1, 2012, we left the house at 6:00 a.m. We flew out of Colorado Springs to Dallas on the first, and briefest, leg. Sophia was sitting with Ben in the row behind Brooke and Marin. As we descended into Dallas, Sophia uttered a funny sounding cough. Brooke said uh oh and handed Ben a barf bag. That didn't sound good, she said. Ben barely had time to open the bag and put it in front of her mouth before she puked up her breakfast, mostly into the bag, but also in bits upon her elbow, chest and legs. While it seemed to be an unfortunate omen on the first leg of a 2-day journey, it was the last we saw of Sophia's semi-digested meals at that end of her body.

 

The flight from Dallas to Dubai, while a bit bumpy at times, was largely uneventful. Emirates airlines showers children with all kinds of stuff, including animal puppets relating to the continents, a sleeping kit complete with travel toothbrush and sleeping mask, a one-strap backpack with activities inside, and special meals which include far too much pudding and candy.

 

Upon arriving in Dubai, we changed money to cover cab fare to our hotel. We had hoped to see some of the city, but we were all exhausted, especially Brooke who felt nauseous. Sophia and Marin and Ben went down to the hotel pool. It was 104 degrees and the sun was intensely bright and warm. We met a guy named Gobil who was the pool keeper, but not the lifeguard. He gave Sophia a yellow floatee to help her swim in the pool. He told us he also had two kids and we took a picture of him.

 

We walked to a nearby convenience store to get bottled water - 3 bottles of Volvic, Brooke's favorite from her college days. We had dinner at the hotel restaurant and especially loved the mocha cake (Marin and Sophia's choice) and the custard (Ben's choice).

 

We went back to our room to get a few hours of sleep before making our way back to the airport for a 3:50 a.m. departure. Sophia and Marin had a very hard time falling asleep, but eventually succumbed to their parents' sleep-deprived pleading.

 

They left the hotel by taxi at 1:30. It was at that time that Ben learned he had been snookered by the taxi driver to had brought them to their hotel, charging them over twice the going rate. Ben was resolved that that would be the last time. We shall see. We shall see.

 

We boarded the flight on time, the kids received their requisite material items from the Emirates staff, and then the pilot announced that there was a technical problem with the plane and that we would need to disembark, which we did. We needed to go back through security and soon boarded another plane and departed 2 hours late. Ben emailed the person who was supposed to meet us at the airport, Robert, and the person from whom we were renting the apartment, Janet, to let them know we were running late.

 

The arrival in Cape Town was less than ideal. Robert was not there to meet us. We had no way to reach him until we paid for internet access in the Cape Town airport, and even then we could only email him. The main issue was that we had a lot of luggage and a relatively small car to put it in. Also, this would be the first time Ben would be driving on the right side of the car and the left side of the road (British style) and we had been hoping to be able to follow Robert to the apartment (a 45 minute drive). Alas.

 

We made our way to the rental car area and rented the car. A staff person named Ronald kindly helped us to load our bags into the car. They didn't fit easily. In fact, we had to put two of our large suitcases behind the driver's and passenger seats, leaving the kids no leg room. Finally, we pulled out of the airport and proceeded to go the wrong way on the N2. Directions from Janet said to take the N2 toward the CBD. We still have no idea what the CBD is. Eventually, we figured out how to head in the right direction. Brooke remained very calm as Benjamin negotiated the driving. We arrived almost without a hitch. Ben stopped at a light and peeled out turning left when someone behind him started honking.

 

We arrived at the apartment and there was nobody there to meet us. We had no phone, no internet access, and no way to reach the person who was supposed to meet us. Ben got out and started walking up the road to look for a phone, leaving Brooke and the kids in the car in the parking lot across the street from the apartment.

 

After leaving Colorado Springs on Tuesday, May 1, 2012, flying two hours to Dallas, 15 hours to Dubai with a 15 hour layover, and, finally, a 10 hour flight to Cape Town, here we are, Sophia, Marin, Brooke, and Ben, in the place which will be our apartment for the next 3 months. Here are some of our remembrances of our trip:

 

Sophia - I remember the pizza we just had in Fish Hoek at Debonair Pizza. I ate the cheese off the top and did not touch the crust because I don't like tomato sauce.

Marin - I barely slept. (Daddy also remembers that Marin watched a lot of TV, played Caveman and Mini Golf and Battleship and Bowling and Backgammon to while the hours away.)

Brooke - I remember being excited to be on our last flight, to our final destination, at 4:00 in the morning when the PA Announcement came on tell us there was a technical issue that the we would need to disembark.

Ben - On the first flight, Sophia made a funny sounding coughing noise. Brooke handed me a barf bag and said that didn't sound good. I barely had time to put it in front of her mouth before she puked, mostly in the bag, but also in smatterings upon herself. I thought, this is going to be a long journey.

Brooke - The four of us sleeping in odd configurations on the planes, including Ben squished on the floor, which people back at home insisted could not be done. (Marin also remembers dangling off the bed... while we were doing this journal.)

Ben - The person who was supposed to have met us at the airport was not there. Our luggage barely fit into the car. We took a wrong turn on the N2 looking for the CBD, whatever that is, and immediately seeing shanty towns.