Here we are – nine hours into the future. And it’s already the eve of a new year.
This morning, after a 15 hour direct flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg, my head is still spinning and I feel unmoored. Now, on the terrace of our room, I’m listening to the singing of subtropical birds and the occasional call of monkeys in the distance. You may know that I’m never awake before Bill, but this day is different. He is still sound asleep. I can’t wait for him to see what surrounds us.
We arrived at the Residence Hotel last night in the dark, just in time for the final dinner service. Although tired and disoriented, we decided to have a small meal to begin to settle and adjust to the local time and rhythm of things. I had South African Oxtail Samosas. They were absolutely delicious.
There was a “mistake” in our booking when we checked in. We were offered two separate rooms. However, Bill found the confirmation for one room on his phone, and the issue was quickly resolved. To our pleasant surprise, we were then given an apology and keys to the penthouse suite.
This initial stop in Johannesburg was intended to be a place for gradual transition, but it feels like we’ve been dropped into a drastically different world. I had forgotten just how different Africa is, yet how comforting and strangely familiar to my senses.
It will now be up to us to get on with the program and re adjust to this reality – one full of contradiction, beauty and surprise. “Welcome to Africa,” the young man said. “You’re home!” “Has anyone ever told you that you look just like Nelson Mandela?”
