Everything was on time coming leaving Doha and coming into Kilimanjaro airport. It took about an hour in that hot airport to get through the Visa process and we generated at least one funny memory.
We had been given a map of the process that turned out to be totally unnecessary. A big sign says "need visa" and you get into that queue. While in that queue (about 40 minutes) you fill in the immigration form.
There were 4 queues; the first one is simply paying the Visa fee -- 50 for Canadians and 100 for Americans, all in US $. Guess what; we were Canadians. Queues #2 and onward processing isn't as long so those queues don't build up.
We got through queue # 2 and didn't have to go to the second queue 2 window, presumably because we were using Canadian passports. The Americans in front of us had to go to the second # 2 window.
Moving onto # 3, it appeared that most people split up if they were couples, so I handed Sandy her immigration form and the enclosing passport, went to my person who did her stamping and I was through. Picture but no fingerprints. Fingerprints seem to be optional.
Just beyond, I collected the luggage and waited a bit; there was someone ahead of Sandy but then I went back to see what was taking her so long.
She was waiving frantically at me and I assumed that she needed the immunization card, as I had both. No. She needed her passport.
The person at Q3 had actually processed Sandy's passport for me without ever verifying the picture ! The "control" lady didn't want me to go back, saying that I already had my visa. I opened the passport, pointed at the picture -- "not me" and she got the idea.
So ... the lady handling Sandy's immigration with my passport sorted everything out and we were both legally in the country ...
We rolled through Customs, having our bags scanned on the way out and our driver was waiting for us. It was an hour ride from the airport to Arusha where we found our hotel. Security is tight - they used a mirror to check under the car and we went through metal detection scanners on the way in. Yikes ! I've never been scanned so many times in a 2 day period.
Wilbur, partner to Gerry the outfit owners and Gerry's son met us at the hotel. A quick chat and we were checked in and up in our room. We arranged to meet with Wilbur the next a.m. to go over our gear. That turned out to be the guide/expedition leader. He went through our stuff with us this morning and we got a better idea as to what would be in duffles vs day pack.
The personal porter carries the daypack. Sandy is determined to carry hers. My camera probably weighs as much as the rest of the daypack so I may very well happily use my personal porter !
What else ... simply hanging around the hotel today ... an 8 hour time zone change ...
SPOT was on yesterday, making the instantaneous jump from FL to TZ.
Upward !
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