Exploring a new land

SUNDAY – I woke up with a start. “Oh God, please don’t let it be 3:00 pm” Thankfully I discover that it was only 9:00 am. My hotel room does not have an alarm clock, which is going to be a challenge. I quickly got dressed just enough to go down to the lobby to get a key made. When I got here last night the machine was down, so if I left my room I was locked out. I decided on the way down in the elevator that I REALLY needed that cup of coffee now if I was going to keep moving today. I’m starting to make a to do list…

Mission 1 – Get key. Machine is up, accomplished in a matter of seconds. Good.
Mission 2 – Get coffee. (See story below)
Mission 3 – Get SIM Card (See second story below)

Right on. I’m on a roll. I saunter across the lobby to the hotel “coffee shop” and walk up to the counter to order. I’m in a Starbucks routine, so I’m hoping that I can get my coffee to “take away” and keep moving. Silly American…did you forget you’re in Africa? The very nice lady stifles a giggle when I order and tells me to take a seat. She comes over a few minutes later with a full french press coffee pot and all the fixings. I forget that Africans take great pleasure in the simple things of life like having a cup of coffee or tea. They don’t have a paper cup attached to their hand all day as the flit from errand to errand. No, no. They enjoy the moment. So I take a deep breath, submit to the fact this is going to take half an hour and people watch.

Mission 2 accomplished. Now it’s time to get a SIM card. I head to the hotel gift shop and inquire. The conversation goes something like this:
Shopkeeper: it’s 15,000 ZMK ($3.91)
Me: Cool. Can I charge it to my hotel bill?
Shopkeeper: No.
Me: Crap! (I don’t have local currency yet)

So I got back to the front desk to find out where the ATM is. They don’t have one in the hotel (guh?!) So now…I’m going to have to take a shower and get dressed for real. I add to my list: Mission 4 – Get Cash.

Showered and dressed, I hit the road in the direction everyone else seemed to be going while I was people watching today. It’s a really pretty day about 75 degrees and sunny. Awesome. And a walk feels good too. In few blocks there is a BP (as in the gas station you’re familiar with) with a drive up ATM. Mission 4 accomplished. In this little complex there are a few convenience store type places and the Zambian equivalent to a fast food restaurant. It’s about lunch time so I stop in for some “chips” and a Sprite (Note: In most of Africa “chips” are french fries and “crisps” are what we call chips. Oh and you can’t find tortilla chips. La Parilla we have a date when I return.)

Full of energy and curiosity, I decide to see where else this road goes. Other than the walls of compounds there isn’t much to see. I do, of course, find the UN Mission that has UNICEF, UNFPA and the WFP. I swear they equip you with a homing device when you do Model UN. There’s a couple of churches and people walking about. About an hour later when I find another gas station I decide this road is going no where and it might be time to head home. I stopped into the BP on the way back to the hotel and purchase a SIM card for 5,000 ZMK ($1.30…yeah bargain shopping). I got back to the hotel with Mission 3 accomplished, a sunburn and blisters BETWEEN MY TOES on both feet. A small price to pay for a mini-adventure.