Arrival

I think this is funny. Jo our helper told us she wanted to help us get to the train station the morning of our trip. We thought, "great!" She showed up at our apartment at 6:30am with a taxi waiting for us. She watched Avril and helped us get loaded. It was awesome. When we arrived at the train station she got out of the taxi and started to help us get inside. Then she helped us through "security" - a metal detector that no one monitors and up to our gate. I thought she was really going above and beyond the call of duty here, but if she was willing to help, I was going to take it.

After a while I asked her what she was going to do while we were out of town. She said she was taking the train to the capital too...I began to get concerned. That was when I also noticed her backpack; she never carries a backpack. I asked her where she would be staying - I was afraid she was going to say "with you." I began to fear a major breakdown in communication. Did we ask her to come with us and not know it? Are we paying for her trip? Fortunately she said in a hotel with her family. Whew! I asked when her what hotel? She said since our hotel was too expensive they would stay elsewhere. I love this culture's bluntness when it comes to money. Soon I noticed it was time board the train but her family was nowhere in sight. Eventually we had to leave her and hope her husband and son showed up before the train left. Fortunately they made it in time.

After arriving in the capital, Jo and her family met up with us after we got off the train. Jo strolled AB through the train station and her husband helped with our big-O suitcase. This was especially helpful since the escalators did not work (or were not turned on, which is very likely), but after living here for more than 3 years, this was expected and did not throw us off.

For reasons I have yet to figure out, we have to scan our tickets to get out of the train station. So, the couple thousand people riding on our train all needed to get through one of the 5 gates. Ironically the little scanners did not like the majority of the tickets. Most people just forced their way though or jumped over the gates. The workers did not care. They stood and watched. However with our stroller it was not possible. Eventually we rolled the thing under one of the gates. Below is a picture of me taking in this situation. In front of me are the gates that will not open, and Jo is in orange trying to get AB through.

After getting through the gates we said bye to Jo and her family. They told us the taxis were too expensive and headed for the subway. We actually think the subway is the best way to travel in this city. However with 2 kids, a stroller and a heavy suitcase, a taxi was for us. Unfortunately it was the choice for a lot of people that day. We got in line and began to realize the outlook was bleak. In the picture you can see a man in orange. He is at the front of the line and almost all of the people in the line were individual riders. We waited for almost 45 minutes for a taxi since the taxis trickled in one by one about 3-4 minutes apart. Our driver did not even want to take us, but our superhero, the taxi line guy, basically told him to have pity on us because we have 2 babies - they still consider AB a baby.

AB being a trooper while waiting in line. This stroller is great for traveling. It is light and has a carrying strap.

That evening we made it to one of our favorite restaurants in the entire country. If any of you come visit us, you too can eat there if you like : )

AB's poor face had a terrible allergic reaction to some misquito bites and then later sent her into a terrible chain of reactions to food she ate but was not previously allergic to. Fortunately we were in the capital and were given some awesome meds that have cleared it up nicely.