who needs luggage?

Stepping off the plane in Kigali airport one is immediately bathed in moist warm air.  There is a faint smell of eucalyptus fires mixed with airplane exhaust.  One leaves the plane in the old-fashioned, or royal, way but descending steps to the tarmac.  During the stroll to the tarmac there is a most wonderful feeling of joy and relaxation at being back in Rwanda.  

Our flights were long, and the final one particularly tedious, but we kept our good spirits.  Unfortunately, none of our bags arrived, which was probably due to a two-hour delay getting from Halifax to Toronto (that’s winter).  After extensive baggage claim paperwork we were greeted outside the terminal by Emmy, a dear friend.  Big hugs, big smiles and a warm welcome to Amélie.  Even though it was very late, Emmy took us to Nakumatt to pick up essentials.  This included summer dresses for both of us, as all we have is the smelly winter clothes we’ve been wearing for the past two days.  Nakumatt is pretty interesting at 3:00 AM.  It is brightly lit and well stocked.  There were about 20 people working there but we were the only customers!  We flipped through racks of some pretty hideous and badly fitting dresses but finally came up with a decent dress for each of us. We got to the apartment around 3:00 AM this morning.  Next problem: no water.  This is a long story but at least for last night it meant washing our faces with baby wipes and throwing water down the toilet for flushing.  We got to bed around 4:00 AM. 

This morning we got operational – Rwandan cash, cell phones, internet, buying bathing suits (to last till the luggage comes) and Serena Hotel fitness membership.  We are now divinely happy campers.  And we are clean! 

It is quite common to have glitches of some sort in the first few days of arriving her (unless, of course, I’m travelling with Shannon).  But these are just little bumps in the road that do not dampen the great joy of being back in my second home.  How many times did I hear “welcome home” or “welcome back” today?  I probably hugged about 8 members of the Serena Hotel staff.  So many smiles, so much kindness.  Body relaxing and heart opening.  Welcome home indeed.

At the Serena Hotel in our new Nakumatt dresses

Amelie outside the hospital