Thursday May 28, Plane to Lilongwe (afternoon)

We survived Johannesburg, South Africa, city of vile repute, but just barely. This un-vactioanble dark place where whites are shot on arrival and again on their way to the hospital, and all their belongings stolen multiple times before the plane has even landed is behind us. In truth we stayed a beautiful night at a gorgeous guest house in Melville. I spoke with numerous South Africans about the foul perception of Johannesburg vs. its reality. It certainly couldn't have bee nas bad as all the horror I'd heard. And it wasn't. The constant checking of the door locks by the driver of our car reminded us that there was at least a concern for possible danger in the golden early evening. None of it found us however. Instead we had a lovely hot shower, and a soak in one of the largest bath tubs I had ever lost track of time in. We ate a gorgeous breakfast in the morning, and had a dinner of roasted vegetables, potatoes, lamb shank, and steak delivered to our gate last night, which we ate atop the house, atop the hill, atop Johannesburg. The people were either very friendly or totally aloof. I mentioned to Katie that I still don't feel I'm in over my head in some other world. I am simply in some place new. I have hit a point in my life where travel in and of itself, is no longer an accomplishment; it is the stories and experiences that travel provides the opportunity for that are the reward. Our night at "A Room With a View" was precisely what was needed to recover from the long day(S) of travel to get here. I feel healthy, fed, rested, and alert. We chatted with some folks at breakfast this morning. This international travel business really goes to show just how much a hayseed I am. I speak no languages and have only ever traveled to the UK. Everyone starts somewhere I suppose, some just start young and hit the ground running. I don't feel deficient or insecure, it just means I generally have less to talk about with the well traveled. Closing in on Lilongwe now. Adventure ratchets up a couple notches from here on. A good story from our first driver, and ex-jet-setter who grew up in Zimbabwe, said that he once had some Americans ask him if lions still roamed around the streets of Johannesburg. Negative points to America for that one.