Trip to Dar

Hi everyone!  Sorry for the delay in posting, it has taken awhile to work out internet (and still working on it).

So, the trip to Dar was very uneventful but VERY LONG!  The whole issue of only one stop over is really great except you sit down for a VERY long time on those 2 flights.  My only issue is that the guy in front of me on the Amsterdam to Dar let insisted on having his seat in FULL recline the whole way (even in the quick stopover in Kilimanjaro) and for those of us with long legs that makes the flight pretty uncomfortable! 

PS.  Kristina and Nameeta--no need to download movies for the flight--each flight had a selection of a ton of movies for your viewing pleasure!

Then came the Dar airport and the VISA process which is quite interesting.  There is this guy that takes your passport and maybe asks you what type of visa you want and maybe you can have a discussion with him (or not).  Then he scrutinizes your hundred dollar bills and if they are dated before the late 2000s he rejects them as "no good."  Lucky for me I had enough "good" ones because I thought it was going to be $100 and it was $300--surprise!

Then you wait.....and wait......and wait......and wait in a herd of people all hoping their name will be called by this guy behind the desk and a window who makes a little attempt to call your name.  I was the second to the last called--story of my life.  But by then the rest of the airport was deserted so I walked through the passport checkpoint (no one in the booth) and picked up my bags (2 of the 4 left) and walked past customs (no one sitting there) and out the door--where the BEST thing happened!  There was a man with a sign with my name on it!!!  For those of you who don't know, the last time I was here no one picked me up and I had no where to go!

Then I met Dee, our Irish sponsor and was at the apartment which is very very nice.  Successful trip!

And Kristina was right--the 97 lbs of my checked luggage and the 35-40 lbs on my back all made it here safe and sound!  After unpacking, I was reminded that I don't have much by way of clothes so the bags will be very light on the way back!