48 HOURS TO DJIBOUTI

AM I EVER GOING TO GET TO DJIBOUTI?

I'm picking up the blog where I left off this morning --stranded in QATAR and unable to leave the airport because of Covid Protocols. Damn Covid.

I spent 16 hours in the Doha Airport. It is a beautiful, upscale, bustling airport, especially at night. I arrived too late for my connection at 7:50 am on Thursday, but not knowing that, I busted it down the gangway in case the flight ran late. As soon as my feet crossed into the airport building, I noticed a Qatar representative holding up a sign with my name on it. She explained that the plane had already closed its doors and the next Qatar flight wasn't for two days. 

I was elated when she showed me the piece of paper in her hand with two alternative flights that arrive on Friday, January 7.  The first flight I nixed quickly: fly to Turkey on Turkish Air. Spend 8 hours in Istanbul, then fly straight to Djibouti. I would be at the mercy of Turkish Airways, once I left Doha and the Qatar help desk, 

I opted for Ethiopian Air, but it meant spending the day and half the night in Doha, catching a 3:15 am flight to Addis Ababa and transiting to another flight on Ethiopian Air to Djibouti. 

Qatar Help Desk reserved a complimentary hotel room and led me to the 5-star lounge for breakfast. I found that the people who worked at the airport were the nicest, most helpful, and courteous people in every capacity. There wasn't anything they didn't jump to help me with, even if I didn't know I needed what they offered.  

A representative met me at the hotel reception around 1:30 am and took my passport and documents to check me into my Ethiopian flight. I waited in the reception area, and once he returned with papers in hand, he escorted me through the airport, to the gate, past the line at the counter, and directly onto the jet bridge. Service, service, service!  

I realized I wasn't in Kansas anymore when I turned the corner of the jet bridge and entered into the Ethiopian Airways cabin. Not the Queen's suite. Nope.  However, it was still a first-class seat! I have a lot of room, and the seat does lay out flat. It is an older plane, so some of the shine has come off, but the flight attendants are very attentive, and I am extremely tired. I'm turning off the light now. I still have four hours to Addis. I'll write more on my final (not final) flight to Djibouti.  

I'm descending into Djibouti right now. Transiting through Ethiopia was a snap. Everything was clearly marked, and after going through security, it was a five-minute walk to my gate. Addis doesn't have jet bridges, so we were bussed from the first flight to the terminal and from the departure gate to the plane to Djibouti. 

Several observations: 

I am surprised by how many "westerners" are on this flight with me. 

I was heart warmed by the respectfulness the people showed toward not only me, as a woman, but to the elderly. Young men stood gave up their seats in a crowded airport and on overcrowded buses. I watched as strangers helped an elderly man out of his bus seat and off the bus. The stranger took the older man's arm and carryon and helped the old man one step at a time up the movable stairs to the plane. 

People smiled at me, said hello, and were friendly. And, every pilot wished their passengers a Happy Christmas and New Year. There was a beautiful giant Christmas tree in the middle of the Addis Ababa terminal. Christmas is still being celebrated.  

Final notes about my 48-hour journey to Djibouti:

I have realized that I eat just like a goldfish whenI am  flying in a priority cabin. I cannot stop eating.  And, eating. 

The meals were fabulous, and there were so bloody many of them. I started out taking photos of each course, but I soon realized that I couldn't post all the food photos or that all the blog would be about was what I ate. First I took a picture, and then I ate everything that was put in front of me. Like a goldfish, I did not know when to stop. 

Ugh. I just finished my third breakfast today. One in Doha, one en route to Addis, and now, the last meal… I'll be on the ground in Djibouti in twenty minutes. I couldn't be more excited and more full. 

Djibouti, here I come!