Missive from parts of Africa

A light hearted and sometimes serious look at moving 6000km into a place in Africa: April 2007. Promoted back to South Africa, the missive will continue to track my foray's into deepest Africa as and when I get there.

Name:
Location: Joburg, Africa, South Africa

Sunday, September 02, 2007

Lumambashi

Another Sunday Morning in an African City north of the Border.

As can be seen my the heading, I finally got to my intermediate destination, before my wing back to SA tomorrow. A tad later than anticipated, which has messed up my plans for Saturday as I cannot meet the people we need to meet.

That aside, we did get to the airport at 8am as recommended by our (embarassed) travel organiser. The airport had just disgorged a bunch of people and cargo from a non name brand ancient 737. Apparently these guys are working on another mine 70km's away from Kolwezi. Marketing 101 saw me hand my card out to the engineers and say "we are based permanently here with plant".

People in traditional clothes arrived, as did a brass band. I thought of phoning our travel organiser and thanking him for the send off, but it was unnecessary and I would much rather have got on yesterdays plane.

Appears that the singing dancing playing team was not for me. It seems that the President of the DRC was making a vist to the town and they were there to welcome him. It also appears the pres travels on local airlines instead of having his own jet. Respect!

The upshot was, the plane that came in was a bigger one than the sardine can we flew down on and there were seats on the plane for the 45 min trip. I sat next to a garlic chomping Japanese lad who slept the whole way.

We visited out site just outside Lumambashi and chatted with the lads about what was happening and gathered a bit of intel for future problems. We also did a mini shopping trip in the site stores container. *chuckle*

Last night Eben and myself toddled off - per foot - to the Italian Club who apparently had a nice restuarant.

They did and if you do not mind eating a R105 Pizza, drinking a R210 bottle of Italian Plonk, then it was a good meal. Siciliana Pizza tastes good here too.

It did however take ages to get the bill and toddle back to the respectable hotel for a nights kip on yet another hard bed.

I did have a nice chat on Yahoo with the Nessers.

Today I have some work to get out before 12 when we toddle off to a site braai that the lads will be having today. Tomorrow am we wing our way back to R S of A to a day full of meetings. Tuesday looks no better.

Hope you smiling happy people. I think I am