Thanks to Uncle PJ, we arrived at Dulles with time to spare on Sunday, June 8.  Nearly immediately we found the Deroche family—Andy “Duke”, Heather, Ezekiel “Zeke”, Ellen and Joy–our travel companions.  After checking in a total of 16 bags (i.e. katundu), we found our gate and our way on  board Ethiopian Airlines.  The flight to Addis Ababa was long but the plane was comfortable and the service outstanding.  Unlike most domestic flights, the food was plentiful and good—4 meals in all during the flight.

In Addis, we herded our crew to a holding area to await our flight to Lusaka with a stop in Harrare, Zimbabwe.  At the bottom of the escalator, we were greeted by a large and colorful, but well mannered crowd waiting for a variety of, to my ears, exotic destinations—Dar es Salaam, Moshi, Johannesburg, Dubai…

At one point–Duke and Joe shrieked in delight when they encountered a portion of the Zambian soccer team (aka the Chipolopolo Boys) and, giggling, collected their autographs and the pictures attached here.  This was definitely a good omen for the trip.

After a brief flight to a rather desolate looking airport in Harrare and a one hour tarmac delay for “activity around the airport”, we made the short hop to Lusaka and arrived Kenneth Kaunda International Airport at 3PM on Sunday, June 9.  We were greeted by Heather’s family–including Henry, Ida, Uncle Mkongo and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins that we would come to know better in the coming weeks.

Safely arrived in Lusaka, we parted company with the Deroche family and took a waiting van to the Boos house in the Woodlands neighborhood.  This is a lovely house and garden cottage on a half acre or so.   John and Katrina have been gracious hosts–not only providing a home base, transportation and guidance for our adventures, but great food, fun and plenty of Mosi!

Back porch and gazebo at the Boos Lodge in Lusaka!

More later…

Mitch