Apr 5-7 Making our way to Johannesburg

Finally!  Departure day is here!  But the best laid plans….

Around 6:00 PM we received a notification from Air France that our flight, originally scheduled at 11:15 PM, is now delayed until 2:20 AM!!  I didn’t know flights were allowed to depart from Pearson that late!  Oh well, we are experienced travellers who always remain flexible!  Ha ha!   So we called our driver and asked to be picked up at 9:00 PM instead of 7:00 PM as we had arranged. 

We took off on our flight to Paris about 2:45 AM 😳😳, happy to be on our way at last!

They served a light breakfast shortly thereafter and then we settled in under the cozy blankets provided to try and catch a few winks.  It was hard to decide whether to sleep - or watch a movie…

LOL

About 7:30 AM Toronto time they turned up the lights and brought our meal!  The time said ‘breakfast’  but the meal was Quinoa Salad, Haddock Brandade,  Cheese and Crackers, dinner roll, and Caramel Cake and a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah blend.   Since it is now 1:30 in Paris, we didn’t really have wine for breakfast!

We landed at Charles deGaulle airport about 3:30 PM ( local time) and went to the Air France Lounge.  Quiet, comfy, with clean washrooms, a buffet of wonderful things! Even a shower and a nap room!   

And then along came a server with Champagne, a little baguette with red pepper spread, prosciutto & cheese, and a heavenly chocolate covered, chocolate cream filled profiterole!  Only in France!

 

Special Assistance picked us up right on time to get us to our gate for departure.   We were on our way a little after 10:00 PM; dinner was served soon after and then we could settle down for some sleep during our 10 hour flight.  A few hours later it was time for breakfast as we watched the sun rise!  

Our arrival into Johannesburg at the O.R. Tambo International Airport around 8:30 AM was straightforward, and with wheelchair assistance we were whisked past the long queue at Immigration and to the luggage carousel to our bags, and then to where Ronnie and Dee, our hosts, were waiting for us; they seem like very warm, hospitable people - kind of like meeting family!  They had greeted a couple from San Diego earlier, and were waiting for one more flight from Heathrow.  We are already looking like an ‘international’ group!

Dee and Ronnie had decided to use the speed train from the airport so we could experience this.  The station and trains were extremely clean and comfortable.  We had a change of trains and when we arrived at our station we were met by two young men from the hotel who drove us the short distance to Villa Simmone.

Our hotel is a quirky guest house with themed rooms - ours is Venice.  The staff are friendly and anxious to please.  Dee and Ronnie had arranged for a light lunch and beverages as we gathered in the 50’s themed bar until our rooms were ready.  We met some of the people from the first group for 2023 who raved about their experiences. They were waiting to leave for the airport for their homeward journeys.

We had the rest of the afternoon to relax in the garden.  

 

They have already taken our dinner order - Greek Salad, Main Course (Dorothy had Lamb Shank, Mary had Steak) followed by Carrot Cake - and of course, wine!    I wonder if we will be able to manage this for the next three weeks? 😋

I don’t think getting to sleep tonight will be a problem!  We are happy to be here, settled at our first stop, and judging by the comments from the first group of 2023, in for the trip of a lifetime!

Tomorrow is a day to acclimatize so we may not have much to report. Stay tuned for more from Johannesburg on Sunday.

The Happy Wanderers