Arrival: Fruit certificate and other trivialities

Hello dear readers

Just a quick warning: This blog post is extremely unspectacular. However, since there is a possibility that we will not have Wi-Fi until after the safari, I am writing it anyway. It would be kind of silly to send you all the link and then write the first post after 1.5 weeks. So, here we go.

We traveled to Geneva on Thursday with our backpacks packed to the brim (besides tons of sunscreen and mosquito sprays, hiking shoes, and sleeping bags, there is not much space left) to stay at an airport hotel and be at the check-in counter promptly at 5 a.m. Thankfully, everything went smoothly and we caught our flight to Nairobi despite a short layover in Paris. We had to wait for over an hour on the plane before the 8-hour flight followed. For my subclinical ADHD, it was a bit torturous but nonetheless manageable. The Kenyan officials were not so strict with passport and visa checks. However, my apple, which I brought from Switzerland, turned out to be a bigger problem. Apparently, I needed a certificate for it since it is a fruit. I asked if I could just throw it away, but that was not possible because the apple was already here. That's why I needed a certificate for the apple. As you can see, it was quite a dilemma. The officer eventually turned a blind eye to it, as it was just an apple. Phew. After the apple dilemma and a short taxi ride, we were able to settle into our huge room in a new shopping complex. The room and the phenomenal view were reward enough for the long journey! If it weren't for the nightclub located upstairs, which constantly provided our bedroom with otherworldly loud music... but that's how it is with the decibel limitation here. ;)

Today is a chill day to replenish our energy before the safari starts tomorrow. Unfortunately, it's not pool weather with 18 degrees Celsius (except for Nethika, quote = 'sorry, I just have to'), but we still enjoy the time without sunscreen in our eyes and mosquito bites on our skin.

It's winter in Nairobi (at an altitude of 1500 meters) and the city seems quiet and empty. What stands out are the many disparities between the rich and the poor. Next to the 'normal' road, there is a toll road for the exact same route, so that those who can afford it don't have to get stuck in traffic. Next to the advertisements for the luxury shopping center, people sleep in small houses made of corrugated iron. While we sleep in a newly built building, an old building next to us is being renovated with self-built and very unstable and dangerous wooden scaffolding. It reminds us of how privileged we are.

See you soon with a hopefully more eventful post.

_________________________________________

Hello, dear readers

Just a short note: this blog post is very unspectacular. However, because there is a possibility that we will have Wi-Fi again after the safari, I am still writing it. It would be a bit silly to send you the link and then write the first post after 1.5 weeks. So there it is.

We traveled to Geneva on Thursday with backpacks packed to the brim (except for a ton (no, of course I'm not exaggerating) of sunscreen and mosquito sprays and hiking boots and a sleeping bag, there wasn't much space left). We stayed at an airport hotel to be at the check-in counter at 5 a.m. Fortunately, everything went well and we made it to our flight to Nairobi, despite a short layover in Paris. We had to wait for over an hour on the plane before the eight-hour flight followed. For my hyperactivity, it was quite a torment, but we survived it quite well. The Kenyans didn't take the passport and visa check too seriously. However, my apple, which I brought from Switzerland, turned out to be a bigger problem. I was told that I needed a certificate for it because it's a fruit. I asked if I could just throw it away, but that wasn't possible because the apple was already here. That's why I needed a certificate for the apple. As you can see, it was quite a dilemma.
Finally, the officer closed his eyes to it, because it was just an apple. Phew.
After the apple dilemma and a short taxi ride, we were able to move into our huge room in a new shopping complex. The room and the phenomenal view were reward enough for the long journey! If it weren't for the nightclub on the upper floor, from which incredibly loud music constantly reached our bedroom... but that's how it goes with the decibel limitation here. ;)

Today is a relaxed day to recharge our energy before the safari starts tomorrow. Unfortunately, it's not pool weather with 18 degrees Celsius (except for Nethika, I quote = 'sorry, I just have to'), but we are still enjoying the time without sunscreen in our eyes and mosquito bites on our skin.

In Nairobi (1500 meters above sea level), it is winter and the city seems quiet and empty. What is striking are the many contrasts between the rich and the poor. Next to the 'normal' road, there is a toll road for the exact same distance, so that those who can afford it don't have to get stuck in traffic. Next to the advertisement for the luxury shopping center, people sleep in small houses made of sheet metal. While we sleep in a newly built building, an old building next to us is being renovated with self-made and very unstable and dangerous wooden scaffolding. It makes you aware again of how privileged we are.

See you soon with a post that will hopefully be more eventful.