TRAVEL BLOG December 5th, 2021 - ARUSHA

 

12/5/21- Got a grand total of one hour sleep before we call an UBER to take us to the airport. We go toward the check-in counter and met with a group of people standing around blocking the entrance. I go to the front to find out what's going on and the lady puts me right through. I guess the others had a later flight.

While getting ticketed, an argument breaks out between a man and a woman in which airport security had to intervene. While the check-in guy was laughing I say, “And please make sure our seats are nowhere near them.”

When we board the plane, another man tries to bully his way past security to the gate and was stopped promptly. Yelling happens and we were sure the guy was going to get kicked out, but weirdly they let him through. Not a good example they are setting.

The flight takes four hours and we sleep for most of it. We did have the pleasure of sitting next to a woman with a crying baby, but the flight attendants move her before takeoff. She was still within earshot but at least muffled.

We finally land at our layover in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This was a place we had set to visit for a few days to break up the transfer, but once we found that we had to get a Yellow Fever shot and they were $150 US we said, Nuh Uh!

We hit a long line in Addis for the passport transfer and security line again, but our layover is 2 ½ hours so we have plenty of time to relax, and once through we find our gate and check out a gift shop, which had some very unique stuff. I pick a small clay souvenir up with the words Ethiopia on it and ask how much and quoted $25 US. I immediately put it down and walk out.

Just before boarding, we see everyone at the gate heading out. Unsure of what was going on, I grab a peak at the departures board to see our flight changed from Gate A to Gate C. It took a bit to walk through the terminal before lining up to take a shuttle to our plane. Oh the joys of traveling.

The flight is smooth and a short two hours, however, our screens don’t work very well. Mine was working fine until they reset the other screens, and then mine went out too. I was just watching it for the flight status anyhow.

We land, deplane and wait in line for the COVID health inspection. We take a rapid test and have to pay $10 for it each. It took some time to fill out the online form and documents but we test Negative and push right through. Our luggage was waiting for us as we head to the taxi rank. They don’t take credit card so I withdraw cash from the ATM and am astounded at the exchange rate. I took out $50 US dollars worth for the taxi and it came up to 115,000 Tanzanian shillings. WOW! I’m ball’n now!

The drive takes over an hour as we see their culture first hand. Motor bikes are treated as side notes as cars pass them and in some cases play chicken. It’s eat or be eaten on the roadway and cars are king. We check into our hotel and not thirty minutes later our tour guide for tomorrow shows up to meet us, which we’re so glad he did because he helps us maneuver the COVID testing appointments we need. Unfortunately, he only takes cash for the testing, so he takes me over to an ATM to withdraw. I took out extra because it seems everything around here is cash only. This will be an interesting few days for sure.

He continues to show me around town as it looks like utter chaos. Stores are not open due to it being the weekend and all of the hustlers are out in full force. At first they don’t pay much attention to me, but once the assistant from the tour company and I part ways I could hear them chomping to scam. Every block was filled with someone trying to talk with me, show me around, asking questions about where I was going. I understand being friendly, but a cold shoulder works just as well. One even tried to get me to change money with him. I never felt like I was about to get mugged or anything, but it was pretty wild. I spent the whole time out taking photos, not only of the town, but of the people I came across. Felt like a real photo journalist.

As the day winds down, we order room service pasta and prepare to get as much sleep as possible as we have to be out of here by 8am.