It all started at the airport. We arrived 3 hours early like we were instructed online. Funny story, there are already Africans in line, but with 10-15 bags a piece. Not exaggerating. They weren't small bags either. What was in them we will never know, but as anyone can imagine, it makes for a long time in the line to check-in with obstacles such as those. Thelma decided the night before that we were going to upgrade to business class because it was only $300 more per person at check-in. No problem right? Wrong. It turns out that in order to upgrade, you have to see someone else at a counter on the other side of the aisle that's not marked. We learned this after we waited in line behind the Africans with 15 bags a piece. Awesome.
After waiting in lines and wading through the confusion, an hour later we had to go through the immigration system. Oh boy! There were at least a thousand people trying to do the same thing. Not exaggerating. Fortunately for us, with our newly upgraded tickets, we were granted access to the premium immigration line, so we didn't have to wait long. Additionally, at the immigration counter, the officers did not collect the premium passes used to gain access to the short line. We hope sneak them through when we leave at the end of May. My fingers are crossed. :-)
Next, we board our flight on Ethiopian Air. Business Class is super nice right? Well...not on Ethiopian Air's plane from 1980. There was plenty of leg room, but the seats were old and just as narrow as economy seats. Yes, they did recline and had leg rests, but my butt still went numb and I actually slept less. It was real awesome. However, the service was great, a little too great. After dinner, comes dessert. There's baked goods galore and a wide assortment of cheeses. I asked what one of the desserts (still don't know) and when I asked for the cheesecake, I just given both. Just what my fat american butt needs in a seat that is already tight with a seat belt that was cutting off circulation to my lower limbs, but I digress. Then, Thelma and I asked for some of the cheese. We just wanted a little of this and a little of that. Nope! We ended up with a lot of everything. Huge chunks of Blue Cheese, Gouda, Brie, another one that was real good but we couldn't identify. We had so much we couldn't finish. Once again, this was real good for two fat American's that can barely buckle their seat belts as is. Awesome. Oh, by the way, the African's on board are no different than any of the others. No deodorant. So Awesome.
Then, reality check. We land in Addis Ababa. Although its the global hub for Ethiopian Airlines, it left much to be desired. First, Thelma and I had to disembark on the tarmac. Nothing too unusual. Then, we had to wait for a bus to take us to terminal 1 with the noxious polluted air burning our nostrils while we waited. Off to terminal 1 we went, only to Thelma's dismay to find toilets without seats and to my dismay, stall doors that don't stay closed. Real Awesome. Finally settled, we found ourselves with a crappy cafe, a couple kiosks of cheap African trinkets, and a small duty free store with high end perfume. Really? Yes. Then, we take our malaria prophylaxis, Thelma got sick from it so I had to buy us a crappy $8 club sandwich and fries to help settle her stomach. Surprise, a club sandwich is a nasty mayo soaked mashed up salad of things I could not identify. Thelma and I shared the fries and I risked my GI tract by trying a wedge of the sandwich. We deserted the rest and I thankfully never got sick.
As great as Addis Ababa was, we were happy to see that it was time to go through security and head for our gate. Sadly, we were not too impressed by the quickly warming room of a 200 people gathering for a flight still an hour and forty minutes prior to boarding. Did I mention there were 50 seats in said room? Awesome. Things did improve though. While waiting, we met 2 Swedish nursing students (Anna and Ulrika) that were also going to Kilimanjaro. Just when we thought things couldn't get any worse, we boarded the plane. Again, from 1985 with tube television screens that had the worst color imaginable. The TVs were hardly bad compared to the seats however. There was less space in the economy seats than even the worse American airline. Gotta love Ethiopian Airlines. NOT!!!! Over the next two hours, my back was kicked by a little European brat. Thelma was hit in the head by the same little girl twice. The mother did nothing. Awesome. Then, after crossing 16 times zones over almost 6 days of travel, both of us exhausted with borderline pressure ulcers on our behinds, we made the final descent into Arusha with Mt. Kilimanjaro just outside the window. It was truly amazing.
I will post more pictures when I get better internet. I will explain that issue as well later.
Then, reality check. We land in Addis Ababa. Although its the global hub for Ethiopian Airlines, it left much to be desired. First, Thelma and I had to disembark on the tarmac. Nothing too unusual. Then, we had to wait for a bus to take us to terminal 1 with the noxious polluted air burning our nostrils while we waited. Off to terminal 1 we went, only to Thelma's dismay to find toilets without seats and to my dismay, stall doors that don't stay closed. Real Awesome. Finally settled, we found ourselves with a crappy cafe, a couple kiosks of cheap African trinkets, and a small duty free store with high end perfume. Really? Yes. Then, we take our malaria prophylaxis, Thelma got sick from it so I had to buy us a crappy $8 club sandwich and fries to help settle her stomach. Surprise, a club sandwich is a nasty mayo soaked mashed up salad of things I could not identify. Thelma and I shared the fries and I risked my GI tract by trying a wedge of the sandwich. We deserted the rest and I thankfully never got sick.
As great as Addis Ababa was, we were happy to see that it was time to go through security and head for our gate. Sadly, we were not too impressed by the quickly warming room of a 200 people gathering for a flight still an hour and forty minutes prior to boarding. Did I mention there were 50 seats in said room? Awesome. Things did improve though. While waiting, we met 2 Swedish nursing students (Anna and Ulrika) that were also going to Kilimanjaro. Just when we thought things couldn't get any worse, we boarded the plane. Again, from 1985 with tube television screens that had the worst color imaginable. The TVs were hardly bad compared to the seats however. There was less space in the economy seats than even the worse American airline. Gotta love Ethiopian Airlines. NOT!!!! Over the next two hours, my back was kicked by a little European brat. Thelma was hit in the head by the same little girl twice. The mother did nothing. Awesome. Then, after crossing 16 times zones over almost 6 days of travel, both of us exhausted with borderline pressure ulcers on our behinds, we made the final descent into Arusha with Mt. Kilimanjaro just outside the window. It was truly amazing.
I will post more pictures when I get better internet. I will explain that issue as well later.
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