Getting Close!!

Leaving Accra was a bit of an ordeal...as it should be! We managed to grab a cab which we believe to have been powered by two small mice. That was of little concern. A bigger concern, was the very significant size traffic jam that developed on the way to the airport. Knowing that if we missed this flight, they would cancel our Frankfurt - Calgary connection home, we became anxious at about the 50 minute mark of our cab ride (which should have taken 10 mins). Luckily, we made the flight and happily slept on the short hop into Lagos, Nigeria for a layover and then to Frankfurt!

We felt a little badly about how happy we were to land in Frankfurt as we made a beeline for Starbucks and then gleefuly wandered around shops where no one was saying "I make nice price for you".

Frankfurt to Malta was short and non eventful although we again fell into the trap of being "back in civilization". It only took us about 6 seconds off the flight in Malta before we crossed the parking lot to those golden arches...McDonalds!!!

After those reconnections with "home", we then boarded the flight for Libya. The flight was almost empty and adrenalin was a little high due to all the stories we had heard. The second we sit down on the plane, we are singled out by airport staff who boarded the plane looking for someone. Heart rate monitors at that moment would have been amusing. Luckily, they had only misplaced the tickets we gave them to board and there was nothing more of an issue. The level of anxiousness remained high - more on that later, but suffice it to say that we arrived in Benghazi and Mike was there waiting for us!!!

Mike, Mel and Lucy (hereafter known as MML for short) have been incredible!! Their home is beautiful and they've been exceptional hosts! After a good sleep and breakfast, we headed out in the car to Susa where we've checked into a hotel for the night. There are some wonderful Roman ruins to check out tomorrow and we got a great look at the landscape. We were able to visit a beautiful mosque and had dinner in an incredible restaurant. The restaurant wasn't busy and they opened the kitchen just for us. So far, what Mike has been saying about the Libyan hospitality and kindness has proven completely accurate! We are looking forward to spending another couple of days with MML. Lucy, in general, has been hysterical! By a few hours into our stay, she was helping us unpack and generally keeping us in stitches!

Grant is also keeping me in stitches because he is now committed to learning Arabic. He is like a little kid seeing Santa Claus every time Mike speaks to the locals and he sees their reaction to Mike's grasp of the language.

Off for more fun with MML ...

kim and grant