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Stuck in Abidjan
Entry 14 of 19 | show all | print this entry |
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I spent most of Today (Tuesday) between my room and the "business center." When I came down for breakfast I asked at the reception desk if they had codes yet for the wifi in the hotel, so I could work I my room. They said the technician hadn't arrived yet; he would come about 9:00. I came back down a bit after 9:00 and asked again. "No there are no wifi codes; you must go to the business center on the second floor." I took my computer and went to the hotel room that had been transformed into a business center by the installation of some desks and broadband cables. It cost three dollars an hour, I was told. In actual fact we were charged three dollars to go in, and we could stay as long as we liked. We were only charged another three dollars if we left and came back.
I spent the morning and most of the afternoon finishing the preparation of several things I needed to do for the FOT convention we'll have in France: festival brochures, and one last sermon among them.
In mid afternoon I called Air Ivoire to try to check on the status of the flight that night and of my status on the passenger or wait list. The flight was still scheduled on time at midnight ten, it was full, and my name was not on the waiting list.... I asked if the agent would please put my name on the wait list. "You just come to the airport tonight at 10:00 pm and see" I was told. I tried rephrasing my request a few times, but it didn't seem to make any difference; nothing could be done over the phone, I had to drive across town "to see."
After dinner I paid my hotel bill and asked the hotel to keep the room for me until midnight, in case I had to come back. They agreed, and I caught the shuttle to the airport under a light rain.
At the Air Ivoire check-in counter, the agent looked at my ticket and smiled ruefully. "The flight is fully booked with people who confirmed their reservations this morning. You can wait until 11:30 to see" she said helpfully. I asked her to tell me honestly if I had any chance of getting on the plane. She smiled and shook her head. I saw.
Pulling my suitcase to the Hotel Ibis counter in the arrivals area, the shuttle driver was surprised to see me back after just a few minutes. We waited for a few passengers who had just arrived and who were to take the shuttle, and then when they didn't show, we drove back through town under a heavier rain. The police had their check-points on the Charles de Gaulle Bridge and at a couple of other strategic points. When they recognized the hotel shuttle van, they waved us through each time. The de Gaulle Bridge is where French peace keepers, feeling threatened, fired into an angry crowd a few years back during "the war" as it's called here. No one outside Cote d'Ivoire batted en eye. I think it was eighteen killed plus more wounded; no international outcry. Imagine if US troops did anything of the sort in Iraq or Afghanistan. CNN would have it on 24/7 and the European Union and the UN would be posturing like mad. But it's OK as long as the soldiers are French....
After thinking through the options, I had to cancel my planned stop in Togo for this trip. Even if I managed to get to Lomé late Wednesday night, my flight back would be very early Thursday morning, that's the only flight that would allow me to be here for the Day of Atonement, and also to catch my Air France flight to Paris. I called Mr. Fiaboé in Lomé, as soon as I got back to the hotel, and gave him the bad news. He understood; he lives here. I'll have to send them the CD's and material I brought for them via DHL.
Latest Comments (2)
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Wow (reply)
Sep 19, 2007 15:21 EST by mefreem
Makes me appreciate how smoothly things go with airlines in the US. Sorry your flight didn't work out, but glad that you are still doing well. Will continue to pray for your journeys.
--Mark Freeman
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Hey! (reply)
Sep 19, 2007 10:35 EST by fmeeker
I´m so sorry it didn´t work out for you to go to Togo! But I´m glad you still managed to get some work done. It seems like those philosophers are still helping you out! It seems they might become a permanent help, especially in Africa! lol! Love ya lots and you´re in my prayers!
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