We are Here!

Sunrise over Cairo

Our flight to Khartoum left at 4:30 in the morning which meant that we needed to be at the airport at around 1:30.  It was a 3 hour drive to Addis from Nazret and so it felt like we had been travelling all day.  We had an 8 hour layover at Cairo and looked into doing a quick tour to the Pyramids at Giza while we waiting.  However, we had a problem with both our debit cards and could not get any money out at Cairo airport and so were technically potless.  However, we had internet and the time passed quickly enough.  Luckily we had stocked up on custard cream variants (banana and strawberry) and with the disappointing airline food stave off any emergent hunger pains.

Coming into Land in Khartoum

We arrived at Khartoum at 18:30 and were met by Rami and taken by taxi to the SVP flat not too far from the airport.  It was still very hot and we had to carry up the bags to the third floor – no lifts – which was a killer.  We have been separated too which is a killer!  There are only 2 bedrooms and for convenience and modesty have been designated a boys and a girls room.  Since our marriage we have spent only 2 or 3 nights at most and hate it!  The “girls” as we are being gallantly called are myself and Rebecca who is 5 days younger than me and the “boys” are Martin and a young man called Raj.

We were invited straight away to a wedding which I badly wanted to accept but after a shower I realised that I was actually too exhausted to do anything else!

We spent the next day sorting out our stuff which meant repacking so that we could have to hand what we might need for our time in the flat.  We were in desperate need of money as we had no cash at all and Sudan does not use VISA.  I had to ring home and ask Neal to go to a Western Union office and wire us money! 

It is really, really hot.  So hot you don’t want to go out.  So hot you want to just keep getting in the shower and drying off under the ceiling fans.  The covering up is an issue.  I wrapped a scarf over my chest, shoulders and arms which is socially acceptable but means that I am trussed up and worried about falling apart when I walk!  My solution is to tuck various ends under my bra straps and this is doing the trick!

Last night I got up in the early hours of the morning and showered; then switched on the ceiling fan in the bedroom and lay there lovely and cool.  I have felt faint a couple of times with the combination of heat and exertion.  It shouldn’t take too long to acclimatise (I hope)

There is a lot more choice of food to eat here than when we were in Nazret.  There are several good café style restaurants that we have seen and have had some delicious food.  Barbequed chicken is a dish that is commonly seen on street corners and is delicious.  We haven’t eaten a bi g piece of meat and virtually no chicken for 2 months so it is a big thrill! 

The charity has to apply for travel visas for us and we also have to have an HIV test.  The we will all be shipped off to our respective posts.

We are in Wad Medani (3 hours bus ride), Raj is going to be based in Khartoum, teaching at University, and Rebecca is going to be based north of Khartoum in Ed Dammer (5 hours bus ride).  She will be very close to Meroe where there are pyramids. Apparently, there are more pyramids in Sudan than in Egypt and with virtually no tourists as well.  This is something that I am particularly looking forward to doing!

There are no land lines in Sudan and so everyone has to have a mobile phone and a dongle for the internet.  Later tonight, Rami is coming over and taking us to buy a dongle each and to get our phones unlocked.  I will let you know my new number!  My old mobile number is now defunct.  I know many people change their numbers regularly but this was my first number and I have had it since 1997 – 15 years!  Is that a record I wonder?!

Scary mask from the Ethnographic Museum in Khartoum

Another one

The stuff of Nightmares