Repacking success our 20kgs of luggage each reduced to 20kgs between us so we are well within the light aircraft limit which includes hand luggage, and with camera and binoculars mine weighs in at a hefty 7kgs!
Today we were awake well before our 5am alarm call and just about to have a second cup of tea when the call came - needless to say we were packed, checked out of the hotel, checked in for the flight and through all the formalities before 6.15; at which time we were to be found wandering through the airport shops. Next stop was coffee and pancakes for breakfast at one of the rather chilly restaurants.....jumper on it was just like being back in the Kalahari!
The plane was delayed 45 minutes as something had to be fixed in the galley area but most of the time was regained and we landed just 20 minutes late in Brazzaville.
No immigration cards on the plane so we filled them in on arrival but after that entering Congo was a breeze -first stop two ladies in white coats who checked our yellow fever vaccination cards (only the second time ever - first time was in Tanzania), luckily I had brought the copies of the letters of invitation from Wilderness - I thought they were just for getting the visas but clearly not, they wanted them and they kept them - phew .....but no queues and we got through very quickly. In the meeting area we saw our name on a piece of paper - always a relief as you know someone is now going to make sure you get to where you need to be - which was Mikael's hotel - Iris who works for Wilderness did just that.
Mikael's is described as a boutique hotel - well I am not so sure - clean presentable with good facilities yes - but a bit tired and old fashioned in places.......not my interpretation of boutique! Today's photo is of sunrise in the Kalahari - not unpacked my camera in the Congo yet but Brazzaville doesn't look that photogenic even if I had been more organised!
We went for a small wander as we had seen a cafe close by and thought we would try it out. The owner, a white French lady, conducted proceedings and was very helpful - we spoke in a combination of English and French and I at least I got what I asked for - I had an apple puff - but I am not sure where the apple was although there was a little purée in places, John had a nice hot cheese and ham croissant....a good choice for omnivores. To drink I ordered two cafe au lait; they were something else - hot creamy milk and sachets of Nescafé - I think it was the unusually rich milk - heated in the microwave, with a thick skin quickly forming on top that made it the worst coffee I have ever had. Eating though is a game of two halves and as I needed to cleanse my palette ( or rather - obliterate the taste of the coffee) I ordered a fruit salad that I had spied in the corner of the cool cabinet - as a result I had a very nice fruit salad - pineapple, passion fruit and mango - it really did the trick. Then we came to paying, the total was 7300 francs - I handed over 2x5000 franc notes - question; did I have the odd 300 ? No I responded - I had just changed 20 Euros in the hotel (13000 francs - but no small change) so I said I would buy a bottle of water - then I heard - 'et une madeline' - accompanied by much frantic activity and waving of arms. I then realised my change was a 2000 franc note, a bottle of water (500 francs) and a sponge madeline cake(200 francs).
The visit was worth it for the experience and the French lady and I struck up a good rapport exchanging French and English words an ideas - as I left she said 'until the next time'- in French of course.
I had to let my experience digest first but then I went off to the gym - cycling for 45 minutes - a month ago we had just finished our charity challenge to Paris - it does seem a long time ago now . After the bike I did a few weights and the trainer was really helpful ( even talking in French it worked).
After a shower John and I had a light supper by the pool -a Lebanese platter - pitta bread and middle eastern dips together with some good comfort food - pomme frites!
To bed at 2100 - tomorrow Congolese wildlife beckons.....can't wait.