Home

I am now home, safe and sound. It was a crazy long flight, about 11 hours from Johannesburg to Amsterdam and then about the same from Amsterdam to Vancouver, maybe longer. I dozed a bit, ate, dozed, ate some more, watched Jane Eyre (another version I had not seen before), Crazy Stupid Love, Bridesmaids, Super 8, The Change-up, a Modern Family episode, listened to music, played Sudoku, read a magazine, chatted with my neighbour.  I was lucky enough to get an aisle seat on the first flight so I could stretch my legs a bit but sleeping was impossible. We left at around midnight but it was too uncomfortable to really get a sound sleep. KLM actually served dinner right away, which I refused politely. I just waited for breakfast, but the omelette or at least the sauce on the omelette was a bit unpleasant so I just ate the other items: fruit, yogurt, cheese & crackers, a bun with butter. The pasta for lunch on the next flight was pretty good, a green pasta (assuming spinach?) in a tomato sauce. We got pizza just before we landed which I couldn't finish. It wasn't horrible but not overly tasty either. I seemed to enjoy the food more on the flight to Africa, I think because I knew I was coming home this time and could eat normal food once again. The fruit, dessert, and snacks were really good, it's just the entrees that were hit or miss. I hardly moved from Amsterdam to Vancouver since I was in the middle so I highly recommend reserving an aisle seat and will make sure I do next time. I had a crazy 'charlie horse' in my shin last night and it hurt like hell, but it seems okay now. I think it helps if you also put all your belongings up in the storage compartment, instead of under the seat in front of you so you can stretch your legs out at least.

I will unpack and start posting photos soon. I am currently doing laundry and enjoying wearing p.j.'s and watching T.V. - it's quite nice to just relax and not have to go anywhere (airport, bus station, game drive, rounds, etc.). I am happy to be home!