JNB (O.R.Tanbo Int'l) => MSU (Moshoeshoe Int'l)

 Upon arrival at Jo’burg, we seek out another lounge in which to kill our layover time of 4 hours.

We hit the jackpot of lounges.  Really comfortable chairs, more like recliners. Better food and a shower.  We fill up with several Captain Morgan and ginger beers, grilled vegetables, chicken stir fry, cheese & crackers and pate.  The shower is a Godsend -- so enjoyable that it doesn’t even feel weird to put the same clothes back on.  As we leave, we feel almost human again and ready to make the final hop to Maseru.

We take the shuttle bus out to the tarmac to board the SAA franchised AirLink small jet, and then sit there for a while.  When we board, it’s a pleasure to see that the plane is actually larger than the puddle jumpers that go between Washington DC and Binghamton, NY.  Barely over an hour in flight, and almost as much time to clear customs and wait for luggage.  We wave to Steph in the waiting area on the other side of the glass, but wait for a long time until our luggage shows up in a push cart at the bottom of a stack about 12 feet high.  At the top are several bicycle transport cases belonging to 3 Swiss couples who look on nervously, hoping that the bikes wouldn’t fall off.

Steph later admitted to Paul that she was worried that the interminable wait would be the source of aggravation, but exhaustion and resigned acceptance overruled any irritation — besides why wouldn’t Paul be super-chill about it anyway? 

We head into Maseru, around the rolling hills from the airport and we definitely know we’re in a

“developing country” which Steph reminds Paul is the PC way to say “Third World.”  Corrugated shacks on the side of the road house small businesses selling a variety of food and other wares, and beyond, the buildings range from new and clean to pretty funky.  

We get to Steph’s place, in a beautiful, gated complex, meet Steph’s friend Edward and chat in the kitchen.  We’re also reunited with the inimitable kitty Rue and meet Rue’s pet, Bunny, a rabbit who she dragged into the house one day and keeps as a playmate.  Steph and Edward head off to join the tail end the Jpiego holiday party (described as beers in the parking lot), and we head off to a much needed nap.

By the time we are ready to eat, it’s getting late by Maseru standards for dining out.  Fortunately, Steph knows a place that might be open later — a restaurant that is operated as part of a private NGO Kick4Life:  Restaurant No. 7.  We dine al fresco on their patio and are the only other patrons except for a large party in the corner.  We savor a S.A. pinotage (Chocoholic), fish cake appetizer, filet and pork entrees, vanilla ice cream with honeycomb.  Yummy.  Love the outdoor patio furniture made of painted tires (tyres) and old shipping pallets.