Saturday, June 28

Saturday arrived somewhere over the Atlantic ocean.

The South African airlines flight to Joburg was about 15 hours! I sat for the first time in the upper deck of a 747.

We switched to a propeller plane for the flight into Gabarone, the capital city of Botswana. I sat next to a guy who worked with the SADC on his way to a conference. He explained to me that SADC stands for South African Development Commission. His area was water. I asked him about the water in Botswana and he said the water is pretty good there but there just isn’t enough because the climate is so dry.

Taking a look out the window. Botswana was below us. We are almost there!!





We got out onto the tarmac of Sir Seretse Khama International airport in Gabarone. We are *really* in Africa!

Walking to the terminal to go through immigration and customs and to pick up our luggage. Note the wonderful tint of the place as dusk was falling on Gabarone, Botswana!


We stayed Saturday night at the President Hotel in downtown Gabarone. It was fun to be in the restaurant there as it is described in a few passages in The #1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith.

Sunday, June 29



Morning view from President Hotel.

In the morning, we went to the national Habitat office where we were united with Natalie and the national director gave a short motivational talk about the story a sheep dog who did his job in finding the lost sheep. She connected the story to us in how we are helping sheep in need by helping build a home.

We got on the combis for the 3 1/2 hour drive up to Serowe. We pulled into the Lentswe Lodge and settled in for the night. Lentswe Lodge P.O. Box 32057, Serowe, Botswana Bus Tel: +267 434 333 (+267 463 4333) Bus Fax: +267 434 332 (+267 463 4332) E-mail: lentswe@mopane.bw



The lodge is run by expats Tony and Veronica. It was a very comfy place for us to be in!

The first of many Serowe sunsets we would enjoy.


Cyberspace Chronicles

The internet has reached Botswana. I sent four travelogue email messages while on the trip and they will be in the Cyberspace Chronicles box. The notes have been edited to correct for eggregious errors! 8-)

Date: Sat, 28 Jun 2003 23:56:42 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Rene in Gabarone, Botswana

Sunday morning here in the capital city of Botswana in an internet cafe next to the hotel.

The journey started Friday 1:30 New York time: walked to the 82nd St subway stop, got off at Port Authority station, took the footpath to Times Square, got on a subway to Grand Central then got on the last seat of the last row of the JFK bus. It was boiling hot and I was soaked in sweat and ready to pass out! And I hadn't even left Manhattan yet! 8-)

Got to JFK and met up with the team and we were wheels up at 6ish pm JFK time. Wheels down in JoBurg at 3ish pm SATURDAY! Then transfer to a plane to Gabarone.

Got out at the airport. We are HERE! We stood in the airfield and a 360-degree panorama of the vast open spaces. The sky above was beautiful and the horizon decorated with a lovely sunset. We were filling our lungs with the air of Africa!

Today, Sunday morning, we will take ground transport to Serowe and given globalization we probably will have internet access for hopefully more stories!

Take care and be well and hope to write soon!

Rene



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