My First Trip to Africa

The First Leg - DFW to London

It took three planes, one boat, and all of my 58 years before I finally arrived in Africa! My journey kicked off with a flight from Dallas-Fort Worth airport to London's bustling Heathrow airport. I took off at 4 p.m. and touched down the next day at 7:30 a.m. In a fun twist to adjust to local time, the airline served us meals according to the destination's schedule, so we had breakfast when our bodies craved dinner! With no delays and a seamless flight, I was thrilled. During my 2 1/2-hour layover, I eagerly traveled from one terminal to the next. I was so thankful that London doesn't require going through immigration or customs when just changing flights. Surprisingly, when given a choice between walking (my adventurous pick) and taking an overcrowded train between terminals, everyone else opted for the train. As I wandered the empty halls of Heathrow Airport in my sleep-deprived state, my excitement for the upcoming adventure in Lamu, Kenya, grew stronger!

The Second Leg - London to Nairobi

Step two was all about heading from London to Nairobi. We took off at 9:44 a.m. and landed in Kenya at 9:35 p.m. It felt like a whole day on the plane, even though it was just nine hours! I was a bit worried when a couple with a baby sat before me. I imagined a long flight with a crying baby, but he was such a sweetheart. How the flight attendant set up a bassinet for him at the bulkhead impressed me. When we got to Nairobi, customs and immigration were super quick. I was out of the airport and on the hotel shuttle in just 30 minutes. I was surprised to go through security again at the hotel. Dogs checked the shuttle, and I had to put my luggage through a scanner before entering. After a quick shower and finding outlets for all my devices drained from the long flights, I finally got some sleep.

Nairobi to Lamu

The final leg of our journey whisked us away by plane from Nairobi to the enchanting island of Lamu! I'm thrilled to be heading to Lamu for an inspiring women's creativity retreat, and I was delighted to meet some of my fellow participants at the Nairobi hotel. We traveled to the airport together, sipping coffee and eagerly sharing stories about our lives and our creative passions. Everyone else was a visual artist, and with my analytical lawyer brain, I felt both different and exhilarated by the creative challenges ahead! Our conversation was so captivating that we nearly missed our flight. It wasn't until the final boarding call echoed over the loudspeaker that we sprang into action and made it onto the plane just in time! Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by Autumn, our leader, who whisked us away by boat to the beautiful home where we'll be staying in Lamu.

There are no cars in Lamu. If you don't walk - you take a donkey (also known as a Lamu taxi!)