After all the usual airport waits and delays we were finally on our way to Ethiopia. The plane was practically an antique and I found myself praying for safety throughout the flight and giving thanks when the wheels finally touched down! As we still hurled down the runway, breaks and reverse thrusters straining to slow us down, a majority of the passengers were already up and taking their hand luggage down from the overhead compartments! This was the first of many occasions when Dennis and I would just smile at each other with a slight shake of the head and say TIA*.
We descended from the airplane and both stopped as the first wave of pure air hit our faces. Eyes closed we greedily drew in large gulping breaths of the sweet grass scented, rain-fresh breeze until our lungs could hold no more. We were once again on African soil.
The wonder of that moment quickly faded as we entered the Bole Airport and were faced with a queue of over one hundred passengers waiting for their entry visas. Groaning we joined the line. An hour passed and there was light at the end of the tunnel! Visas obtained we rounded the corner only to discover that light was an oncoming train, another queue, another wait. Thirty minutes and we were actually through customs, positive we could finally head to our hotel, only to encounter one last line as each piece of luggage was x-rayed once again. Our ‘entrance’ lasted 2 hours and we were thrilled when we eventually exited the airport...
*THIS IS AFRICA
TIA-love it-will be using that!
ReplyDelete