South Africa - Arrival

My journey to South Africa began with a brief and delayed (thanks, thunderstorm) flight to Atlanta, GA, from my natal airport.

Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is huge! I had to trek past about a billion gates, hop on the train to go to a separate concourse, then trek past a billion more gates before reaching my departing gate. At some point I got over-priced but delicious food and met up with two of my fellow trip-mates (Sally*, fellow ISU 2013'er, and Brie*, non-ISU 2013'er).

The flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg was uneventful other than the fact that my seat would not recline. We shuffled directly to customs once we arrived... this took a lot longer than it should have because I had the awesome luck of choosing a teller who could not get the computer system to work. On any of the terminals. But they eventually let me into the country!

The three of us then collected our baggage and tried to find our way to the hotel shuttle station. One of the others decided to ask for directions and we were escorted through a dark, creepy (seriously creepy) walkway that did actually lead to the shuttle stop.

Now, here's a tip: Don't let other people handle your luggage when you're in Africa (or lots of other places) because they'll expect a monetary tip. Sally had apparently never been told this and let one of the porters take her bag, and was then shocked/confused or something when he asked for a tip as we were getting onto the shuttle.

In any event, we are now in our nifty little hotel rooms. We've got an early flight to Port Elizabeth tomorrow!

*names changed for privacy