Yesterday we flew from Brussels to Kigali. We had a speedy trip to the airport and after figuring out where to check in, were able to get through a modest sized security line before drinking our last Starbucks coffee for the next five weeks. We met Brady Warnick the resident who is accompanying us at the gate. It was an eight hour flight but fortunately we had a block of four seats to ourselves and alternately slept and read.
We arrived on time in Kigali. The airport is fairly modern although we had to walk onto the tarmack to get to the terminal. Customs was quite civilized and after a modest wait for our bags we were met by Damascene one of the residents and were driven to our apartment. Kigali was very dark with a smell of wood smoke. The streets were filled with people out walking around. Soldiers with machine guns on every block kept things cool.
After dropping our stuff in our appartment, Damascene took us to a supermarket to pick up some essentials we might need for breakfast and such including of course beer. Around 2200 we got a knock on our door from a McGill surgery resident who was staying downstairs. He told us that he had arranged for a driver to take him to the Akagera Game Reserve on the Tanzanian border. This was something we had planned however, we really wanted to spend Sunday getting the lay of the land. On the other hand, he did have a driver arranged. We agreed that if we decided to go we would meet him at 0500. We set the alarm for 0430. The streets ourside our apartment were humming with activity until the early morning; very little overcomes Imovane however.
0430 came we woke up, decided NOT.
It was 0900 when I next woke up. Brady was already up, we ate the croissants and yogurt we had bought and found some instant coffee. We then decided to walk to the hospital and then on to "downtown". After a longish walk in the equatorial sun we found the hospital and looked around. We then visited the magnificant Serena Hotel which offers use of the pool for $200 a month. Money well spent!
On then to find the Tourist office and the Hotel Mille Collines (aks Hotel Rwanda). This was complicated by the lack of street signs however after stumbling on the supermarket where we lunched on sausage rolls and a latte. Eventually we found the Tourist Office and then of course the Hotel Rwanda.
After a long walk home, we were dying of thirst so had to try out one of the many roadside bars we had come across. Then home to our apartment.
The Wife's View
Brussels Airways looks after you like a European grandma, making sure you're well fed & well watered...
I had brought the instant coffee from Starbucks as per our niece's recommendation. Thanks Lucy...
Rwanda is very colourful. The Rwandan babies are absolutely adorable. The babies are carried on their mother's back in a huge sarong. They look really comfortable & content.
No comments:
Post a Comment