The Journey Begins

“You know you are truly alive when you’re living among lions.”

-Karen Blixen

(Ok. This quote comes from a different part of Africa. There are no lions in Sierra Leone…. but there are Pygmy hippos!)

I left Flagstaff on the 5am shuttle on Friday, March 8th. Thanks to Nancy and Sibylle for driving me to Amtrak Station in the cold rainy dark). After 2 month of delays where everything possible seemed to go wrong — including the longest government shutdown in history — I was finally on my way. I was ready. I had all my immunizations, medical clearance, 2 passports, all kinds of training on what to do if something terrible happened. Everyone pitching in to cover for me at work had been briefed. And my very supportive co-workers had sent me on my way with a beautiful song and prayer, a silver horned toad pin, and an arrowhead — all to keep me safe.

After 30+ hours of uneventful travel, I landed in Freetown just as the sun was setting.

There was an embassy worker waiting to help with my bags, take me through customs, buy a ticket and put me in a taxi to the boat into Freetown where an embassy driver was waiting to take me to my hotel.

It felt so good to go to bed!

Home Suites Boutique Hotel – my home away from home.

The view isn’t very impressive but the rooms are lovely.