BASEL: So my journey finally starts to get to africa. Around 0900 I met up with Dan, a volunteer from group 4, at the train station in Basel (and was fortunate enough to get a lift with him down to Zurich airport). For whatever reason the Swiss check in system wanted to make my life a little more difficult and after not having let me check in online the day before continued to refuse my check in attempts at the electronic check in counter i was directed to in the airport. So I got a little blast from the past and a 20min wait in line to not just drop off my bag but to check in as well.
ZURICH: Passing through security and suprised suprised im stopped for having a slightly large carry on crammed full of photo gear and folders, and it would seem they do a fairly good job of blocking all the xrays from seeing what is actually inside my bag, however had the first of many conversation to come about what the little green sillouette of africa with a white cross on it on my shirt meant. Fairly uneventful flight but on the plus side Swiss aren't and stingy as BA yet and you still get a sandwich as a snack on your flight \o/
LONDON: Arrive in london heathrow terminal 1, a place I haven't been to in at least a couple of years since the opening of T5, its the same old dump it was then, so nothing has really changed. Unfortunately the need for meeting my team and picking up First Aid equipment to take out means I have to leave airside :-( and collect my bags. I bid Dan farewell wishing him a good onward journey and the promise that we'd meet for dinner in 2 days time as to take 2 widely different routes to exactly the same place. Arriving outside terminal 3, I realize my memory wasn't quite as good as I thought it was. I thought I had been rather clever and told all the volunteers I was meeting for the flight out to africa to meet be by THE tree outside the terminal. Fantastic plan out in the open noone can miss you...unless of course... there happen to be about 4 or 5 trees in front of the terminal over a 100m stretch!!! Realizing there wasn't a heck of alot I could do at this point I found myself a shady spot under tree and began my 5 hour vigil looking out for volunteers....
...To be continued
Wednesday 30 June 2010
Things I had forgotten but remembered in time....
Because yes, on occasion I do remember what I had forgotten to pack before I leave the house, we are currently at, my big leather hat and my mini maglite. Lets hope that was all that was making me nervous!
As per usual intermittent sleep the night before long travels, though I think that's more worrying about my team than my own travel arrangements. At least I'm someone that can sleep on a plane...and there's many planes to be doing that on over the next few days. Even better I'm meeting up with Dan H from TG4 here in Basel in a couple of hours, so at least I'll have someone to talk to for the first 3 hours before we split up in Heathrow and I begin my 6 hour vigil by the tree in front of the terminal hoping to spot the hint of a black polo with a spot of green vagually in the shape of Africa on it.
As per usual intermittent sleep the night before long travels, though I think that's more worrying about my team than my own travel arrangements. At least I'm someone that can sleep on a plane...and there's many planes to be doing that on over the next few days. Even better I'm meeting up with Dan H from TG4 here in Basel in a couple of hours, so at least I'll have someone to talk to for the first 3 hours before we split up in Heathrow and I begin my 6 hour vigil by the tree in front of the terminal hoping to spot the hint of a black polo with a spot of green vagually in the shape of Africa on it.
Tuesday 29 June 2010
I think im packed...maybe...i hope
Less than 24 hours before I leave now and im sitting at my laptop over looking two backpacks that look ready to burst. I promised myself I would be able to pack light this time cause I knew what was worth bringing and what was not. That was a great plan, completely shot out of the sky by the increased amounts of personal first aid kit being brought this year, and photography equipment. Believe it or not i've squeezed both a mono and tripod into my 22kg hold bag. Why is it I have this unnerving feeling I've forgotten to pack something? I do know I've got all the team leadery things I need, like everyones flight details, money, my own flight details, passport, work permit stuff, vaccine card, bank cards to name but a few...
Emirates are a great airline, they give you 30kg as an economy passenger!!! which is all well....but when you in a position like mine that involves flying into london to get on the emirates flight, you need to make sure your bag is a mere 23kg!! Though this does means I can go on a shopping spree for books once I arrive in Heathrow :-D or taking care of the excess first aid kit that results from not everybody leaving space in their bags for it!
Maddie is already in africa now, and has been for the last few days, I'm sure she'll get round to a post once shes finished sorting all the odd jobs in preparation for our arrival on friday.
Can't wait for the next few days to be over with now and be able to catch my breath and relax just a little knowing that everyone has arrived in Moshi safe and sound!
Emirates are a great airline, they give you 30kg as an economy passenger!!! which is all well....but when you in a position like mine that involves flying into london to get on the emirates flight, you need to make sure your bag is a mere 23kg!! Though this does means I can go on a shopping spree for books once I arrive in Heathrow :-D or taking care of the excess first aid kit that results from not everybody leaving space in their bags for it!
Maddie is already in africa now, and has been for the last few days, I'm sure she'll get round to a post once shes finished sorting all the odd jobs in preparation for our arrival on friday.
Can't wait for the next few days to be over with now and be able to catch my breath and relax just a little knowing that everyone has arrived in Moshi safe and sound!
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