I didn't sleep very well last night, but I at least got some sleep. I woke up around 4:40 and got ready to leave for the airport. Phidelis drove me and I got to Entebbe without any stress. I said goodbye to Phidelis and got myself checked in and through passport control. I went to the business class lounge and had some fresh fruit grabbed a water, only to have the water taken away when I went through security again at the gate (we went through security before checking bags as well). I chugged the entire bottle so as not to waste water and immediately regretted it. My early morning stomach did not enjoy being so overloaded.
I got on the plane just fine and the business class section was super empty. There was no one next to me so I had lots of space. It was a fairly small business class section (not in number of seats, but in seat size) and definitely more like US domestic business than international business. It was still nice and I had a great pillow and we very comfortable. I had a delicious quiche with vegetables (OMG vegetables!!) and a warm croissant and was very pleased. The flight was other wise uneventful and I got some more sleep.
Arriving at Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport was fairly easy, though the line at passport control was super long. I am not looking forward to having to do that again when I fly back from Livingstone, Zambia on my way back to the US in a week and a half-ish. I eventually got through and got my stamp (I officially only have one page with zero stamps now, and only one other page that has any room for any stamps woo) and rechecked my luggage onto Cape Town. The Joburg airport is quite nice and has some great shopping and so much candy and food. I think I'm going to like being in South Africa if only because I miss western food so much at this point. I decided not to but things now since I will be here two more times before I head back to the US. I only had about 30 minutes before my flight was supposed to board so instead of searching for the lounge (so bummed to miss out, stupid customs lines) I went straight to the gate. I used the Internet a bit with my Boingo account and wow is it fast. I have also dearly missed quick Internet connections. It was wonderful.
I got on the plane to Cape Town for an on time departure and this plane was equally as empty. So strange. I was hoping they would be serving lunch because I was starving, but they served an "afternoon snack" instead. Luckily this snack was pretty delicious and full of vegetables again! I had some potatoes things, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes, roasted red pepper, feta cheese, and a delicious lemon merengue tart. So delicious. No posho, no matoke, no completey starched filled day. Wow. The rest of the flight was uneventful until I got off the plane.
I went to baggage claim and waited, and waited, and waited, and no bag ever came for me. I went to the baggage counter and found out my bag was still in Johannesburg so I gave them my information and headed out of the airport. It was a bit stressful, but also kind of nice because I didn't particularly want to carry it anyways haha. I got on the bus and headed into the city center. I was one of two people on the bus and e other was a guy named Stewart. He was really helpful and made sure I knew where I was going. When I got off the second bus (I had to transfer once) the tap out function was off line so I was unable to really pay for my trip and I will likely be charged the max amount, ugh. I'm trying to work that out. I got off and walked the short distance to the hotel and checked in.
The Westin in Cape Town is amazing and the people who work here are great (except one lady I met but whatever). The room is amazing and on the 17th floor overlooking the waterfront area, harbor, and ocean in the distance. Quite lovely indeed and a major upgrade from my digs in Uganda. I rested for a few minutes and then walked to the Waterfront area. On the way I made one wrong turn, but quickly figured it out and got back on track. I saw a few seals playing in the harbor which was really cute. The Waterfront area was really nice with lots of shopping and places to eat. I spent a lot of the time figuring out how to get a new SIM card (I know have a South African phone number) and figuring out how to get money since my ATM card was again declined. I eventually got things figured out with the help of my parents in Hawaii, but it felt like a bit of a mess. I had some really good rotisserie chicken breast ad roast vegetables for dinner and some after eight gelato for dessert before heading back to the hotel on the shuttle.
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