Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Hurry Up and Wait

It's been one of those days. We had an amazing time in Bukavu and Chihonga, D.R. Congo. We've been trying to get back to Kenya all day. Our airplane* had a stop in Burundi before coming to Rwanda to pick us up and take us to Nairobi. As it taxied into the Kigali (Rwanda's capital) airport one of the wings clipped an electric pole. So the wing was damaged and we began the hurry up and wait process.

After several hours we were finally told that the plane would come at 8PM and we could leave the airport for a few hours if we wanted. We joined up with another waiting passenger and headed to a local Italian place. I must say I've been rather impressed with Kigali. For starters they drive on the right side of the road!!! And it is amazing how clean and organized the city is.

Well it's now after 8. We have gone through tons of security checks. And I think I've filled out more customs forms on this single trip to Kigali than in all of my Nairobi trips combined!

I'm now hearing an announcement saying that we will be departing at 11PM. Ah, gotta love international travel in Africa!!! I'm running low on battery. But hopefully tomorrow I'll get a chance to load up some Congo pictures and stories. In the meantime let me keep hurrying up and waiting!!!

Before I finish up I just have to share that there is an Australian man screaming at the top of his lungs "Who is running this show!!??? Who is running this show???!!!" I believe security officials are making their way here to quiet him down. I'm starting to wonder if we should have taken them up on the earlier suggestion to spend the night in the city and come back tomorrow. It's reminding me of a layover I once had in Zimbabwe that became 24hrs.

*This incident occurred before prior to us getting on the plane, so NO I was NOT in a crash of any sort.

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