En Route - 6/29 +++

Well, we were us again. Ready to go about midnight before the flight, which is a problem if the ride to the airport is to show up at 4:00.

First hop was to Atlanta. It was a pretty normal flight there. The only thing of note was that we needed to start our anti-malarial drugs, which we are scheduled to take at lunch each day. (Easier on the stomach that way.) The only problem is that "lunch" in africa was at 3:00 am when we left. No one told me there was going to be math to do on this trip.

Atlanta to Dakar was also fairly normal travel, just really long at 9 1/2 hours. We arrived at 4:30 am. (Dakar is PDT+7) At this point things started to get a bit odd.

It truly is 3rd world there. We got off of the plane on the tarmack, not near the terminal in a quaint tropical way, but out where they thought it was a good idea to park, with busses waiting. But no one seemed to know which bus to get on. The one for those staying in Dakar? or the one for transfers to other flights within Senegal. Finally a young man from the staff took charge of us and took us to the terminal.

Once there, we had to produce our immigration forms. WHich form? The one they gave us on the plane, but thought we didn't need. The flight attendants said it was for passengers terminating in Senegal. Fortunately we are the cautious type. So we had the forms, which were dutifully checked and our passports were stamped with entry stamps. Entry stamps?? Are you sure this is the right line? Oops, karylinn's passport didn't get stamped, and so was passed back. The officer didn't even look up, just stamped it.

Then around the corner to a randomly placed x-ray machine. Our bags went through, but no one was looking at the screen. Then around a bit further still to another check point where we were asked to fill out a form. "Uh, sir, we gave that form to the other officer." The response was to do it again. So we filled out the same form again. Once done, we earned out exit stamps.
Ok, exit stamps done, then another x-ray and another metal detector. The officer was, again, not looking at the machine. When I beeped going through the metal detector, I didn't get a glance, simply a dismissive wave to go back and do it again.

There were more layers of security, but mostly more of the same. What is ironic about it all, is that the security seemed designed for those who respond to security. There were any number of places where one could simply go outside and walk around the building, avoiding it all. Even when we got to our "gate" we waited in that area, then out through a door -- to a bus -- where people wandered in and out, as though they just walked around the building.

Two last interesting things about Dakar. First, after getting on the plane, seated, doors closed, etc. the flight attendants walked each aisle spraying but spray in the air. Apparently so not to take Senegalese bugs to South Africa.

Second, Senegal is an odd country. There is another country "the Gambia" that follows the river 2/3 of the way up river, cutting off the southern part of the country. Flying over it, I can guess why. The Gambia river ends in a massive delta system of interlinking channels with swamp in between. If someone said "this is our land" I can well imagine the answer being "really? Ok, welcome to it!" All kidding aside, it was an amazing thing to see.

Finally arrived in Jo-berg at about 5:00 pm, made our way to the hotel, and cleaned up a bit. Then back to the airport to gather up Amanda who came in with the rest of the family from Amsterdam. By the time we had retreived her, we had been in transit for 34 hours, with about 5 hours of naps on the way. Even the casino with indoor rollercoaster held no charms compared to a good night's sleep. Fortunately we don't have to go to the game camp until tomorrow.