Back in Botswana

Toronto's Pearson airport was not a happy place at 4 am but I started my New Year there. Some of my fellow passengers looked a bit green being no far enough removed from there hours ago party. The sounds in the bathroom indicated that there stomachs were not approving of being lurched about instead of being happily passed out.

There seemed to be a lot of confusion about what hair products could and couldn't be taken on flights to the US as I was travelling via Washington on the recently created connection to Johannesburg.

I was expected to sit in the airport at Jo'burg for some hours (20!) and overnight in the transit hotel for a mere $162 USD. I decided to leave the airport and go out for fresh air. On my return I was told I wouldn't be able to make it back in without my not yet issued boarding pass. I was convinced this wasn't true but asked what would happen if I slept in the concourse. The friendly agent told me a girl tried that last week and woke up with much less than she'd remembered having when she bedded down for the night. I could just envision waking up naked so I pressed.

I tried to walk through a certain door to go back the way I'd come out and a man started hissing at me. I walked over to him and asked him why he was hissing. He informed me that the door was "No Entry" conincidentally this was exactly what was written on it.

I spoke to a cop about the situation. He was very interested, since I was a Canadian, in hearing about Bryan Adams. I told him that Bryan had a nice house, which I'm sure is true and also that we are very proud of him and that he's a nice guy.

After a bit of cajolling I made it through a wooden door, through a scanner and to customs.

They weren't interested in my ticket, only my passport. One of the agents held it up very closely to his face. The other agent asked if what he was to and he replied "Don't bother me I'm working".

He handed me back my passport but I wanted a stamp which he said I didn't need so off I went.

At some point I found a place to have a nice nap on a bench. At some point I heard rustling and noticed a couple of the night cleaners laying down bedding with the same idea as me. They had the same blankets as I did, compliments of South African Airways.

I asked them what they were up to and they said that each night at 12:00 they took a half hour break but sometimes they don't wake up until two.

Me, I woke at 5 and went to get my boarding pass and my flight bumped up if I could. They agreed to send me at 9:20 but my bags must go on the original flight the man told me.

Fine then and I was off.

I enjoyed the view of Gaborone, spotting the main mall, the distinct Ministry of Education building, the dam and other landmarks.

I whisked through immigration and customs told me to come back later in the afternoon.

I did and was refused entry to the place I knew my bags would be sitting. I was asked by a somber lady where my form was. I looked at the four other people diligently waiting for attention all clutching forms in hand.

I had no form. I was told to go to South African Express to get a form but also that they were closed so instead to go to Air Botswana. I told the that Air Botswana wouldn't help me but they said go anyways.

Air Botswana wouldn't help me.

I insisted that I shouldn't worry about South African this and that and coming back tomorrow and instead just be allowed to go through the doors to customs to get my bags. This was a problem.

I walked to the doors which had one way mirrors so you couldn't see through and noticed they were clearly marked 'No Entry'.

Instead of entering I just hollered for a customs lady. One came out asked for my form. Then she asked me to go to South African Airways. Eventually she decided to walk with me to the place I thought my bags might be.

Rather than walking through the No Entry we through a scanner, which beeped, and out of the airport and around to another door. Through that door I looked and saw my bags. I grabbed them ready to depart but the customs lady wanted to search them.

She asked me what I had in them and I told her some clothes. She was interested in my suit and asked if it was new. I said yes and she asked why I had it. I told her it was for meetings. That seemed reasonable enough so I was allowed to go.

It's good to be back in Botswana.