I am finally in Entebbe, Uganda. The photo is the front of the new airport (built in 1986). It is very small and kind of run down, but the staff working there is very helpful and welcoming. Arrived at 10:30pm and breezed through customs – glad I got my Visa in advance.
Unfortunately, I arrived at night and could not see much during the drive from the airport. I met my guide and driver Isaac from Churchill Safaris (http://churchillsafaris.com/). He is very friendly…kind of like Isaac from the Love Boat. We had a good laugh because he is driving me this entire trip and we will get to know each other quite well for the next three weeks. He pointed out the home of President Yoweri Museveni, who has been president since 1986 (more on that later). It was a huge house in the hills with lots of lights. I am staying at Lake Victoria Hotel (http://www.laicohotels.com/en/hotel/ouganda/entebbe/laico-lake-victoria.html) with the crew from KLM. I’ll have to see what trouble I can get in tomorrow with them. The Dutch do know how to party. Tomorrow I plan to explore the town a bit and see what is happening in downtown Entebbe.
Got a bit of a snag at the DC airport when my 2 half-gallon jugs of peanut butter were confiscated as illegal liquids. I thought they were solids, but TSA said they were liquid. The thought of going back and trying to retrieve my already checked luggage to add in 10+ lbs of peanut butter was too much to contemplate. Also I imagined my luggage tossed about and one of the plastic jugs bursting and creating a clothing catastrophe. The peanut butter was a present for the chimpanzees at Ngambe Island along with a few large Kongs to be used for enrichment items at the sanctuary. Oh well my little gift was trashed by the TSA gods of modern travel. At least they did not take the Lollipop Brownies I made for the owner of the company who helped me plan my trip. She is having me over to her house for a cooking lesson to teach me how to make traditional Ugandan food and I did not want to show up empty handed.
I was able to read my friend Richard’s book on the second leg of my flight (NY to Amsterdam). I must say when I printed the file I was quite impressed to see the end result was 202 pages – quite a commitment. It was quite humorous and sad in parts, but an enjoyable read. It was especially fun because I felt like a fly on his wall ten years ago (when the story takes place). For those who do not know him, my friend Richard, AKA Dick, is a heeheeelarious person with a full repertoire of crowd-pleasing one-liners. Kudos to Dick Parent for completing this book and thanks for sending it to me to read.

Well, that is it for now. I am off to shower and cleanse myself of 24-hr traveler’s funk.