Travel Drama, Round... Oh Who Can Count?

This morning I got up earlier than I should have probably and showered and attempted to eat some unit that I bought last night (guavas, passion fruit, and pineapple). I didn't eat as much of it as I thought I would but it was still good. I finished getting everything packed and ready and then headed to the Waterfront to get the vest the employee at Old Khaki had personally gone to pick up at another store for me. I also went to a Bavarian bakery and got a sandwich for the plane and a tomato basil quiche for breakfast. I had some time to kill before the shuttle would come so I went to the craft center and found the coolest ornament in the shape of Africa mosaiced with ostrich egg. I'm in love with it. I eventually went back to the shuttle and went back to the Westin.

When I got back my key had stopped working, and I know it wasn't demagnetized because it worked on the door the get onto the floor but not to my actual room. I had to go back downstairs to reactivate it and. I was really worried that I was going to be late. I decided to trust take a cab to the airport to be safe and ended up being too early, figures. The airport was fine and the flight to Joburg was good to, though I couldn't eat the food they gave because it all had mayonnaise. Even worse one of the options had a mustard mayo mix, two of my least favorite things. I got to Joburg fine and got my bag (though the claim closed at one point and I thought they had lost it again) and went to check my bag of things I don't need for this week (mostly things I've purchased along the way). They took my passport to make a copy and I paid the rather hefty fee equaling about $50 and was on my way to meet my ride.

I was supposed to be picked up at 3:45pm, but I ended up sitting there with my backpack on until around 5pm, maybe even later. When the driver came we waited for a bunch of people and then finally made our way from the airport around 5:30p. I got to the hostel just in time for the tour meeting and out my stuff down. I then realized that my passport had never been returned to me at the bag storage place. Commence minor panic. The meeting was okay, though I kind of had another moment of "what have I gotten myself into" panic as I looked around at the other people on the tour and heard that we all will participate in cleaning and whatnot along the way. I knew about cooking, but I hate cleaning buses and dishes etc. Oh well, least of my worries. 

After the meeting I tried to call the bag place, but no one answered and my phone died (even though it said 66%) so I decided to go back to the airport. I took a ride with the shuttle to the partner hotel and from there they got me a ride to and from the airport. The lady at the front desk even gave me her cell phone to use to contact the driver when everything was worked out so we could meet up again to go back. He also took me both ways and waited for me for $20. So amazing. Anyways I went straight to the baggage place and the lady there had gotten in two hours after I stored my bag and said she didn't see a passport and sent me to the airport police station. At the police station they had one USA passport, but it wasn't mine and they sent me back to the baggage place. When I got back there a man was there who had been there at 4pm and he said he didn't know anything about it, but then began to remember me and he knew exactly where it was! Crisis averted! It had been out with my bag in storage instead of being returned to me. I was so so happy and so thankful for that man. Thank goodness that every time my passport isn't on me and is almost lost I actually know exactly where it is. I then went to the ATM since I had no cash to pay the driver and then went back to MoAfrika Lodge.

Once at the lodge I met some of the people on the tour and I think now that it is going to be a fun week. I was skeptical at first, but I'm much more excited now. Hopefully all will go well! There is a girl from England, a guy from Singapore, and myself from the US, and everyone else is from Australia. Literally everyone. I was expecting that though as TopDeck let's you book this tour and those tours are generally Aussies. We chatted for a while and now I'm going to bed since we have to be up for 7am breakfast. I have my bags, my passport, my money, my sanity. No idea what to expect this week so here's to adventure!