Swaziland: where is that ?
Trip Start
Mar 17, 2007
1
181
401
Trip End
Ongoing
Mbabane,
Swaziland
Friday, December 7, 2007
Saying bi to our hut, Lower Sabie, the zebras, baboons, kudus, savannah trees, we are ready to enter Swaziland.
But is Swaziland ready for us ? First stop at the border: we are waved through. Second stop: where are our papers from the first stop? Ah, we were supposed to get papers ? Yes, go back. Check out South Africa, check in Swaziland. Check the CAR into Swaziland. Fill in forms. And it starts raining. Did I say raining: POURING.
People are walking on the streets, even on the highways. The lucky ones have an umbrella but most of them just walk in their t-shirt. In the middle of nowhere. Where do they come from ? Where are they going ? Swaziland is even poorer than South-Africa. The houses you see are the 'better' ones. What they call the 'town ships' are little barns, you would not even put your dog in.
We drive to the capital of the country: Mbabane. In one of our guides we found a 'boring' hotel in the city center: the City Inn. It does promise internet. We find it pretty easy. Of course, it does NOT have internet but we decide to stay anyway: it does not look as if there is much choice, the price is right and it is still raining cats and dogs!
The Tomcat goes hunting for an internet café, while the girls write cards. We do get tossed out of the hotel bar at 17h because ... it closes.
Tony found a jazz bar near where we go for beer and cards. Everybody in this bar (and the hotel) is wearing black leather jackets. We decide to eat there. Deeeuuut. Two hours later we receive our food, just when I try to cancel our order.
Since it is still raining big time AND it is not safe wondering the streets in Mbabane at night, we go to bed early.
We will make plans for tomorrow in the morning, depending on the weather. It ode look interesting !
Comments
The Jazz club
I have very vivid memories of the Mbabane Jazz Club that only played house music, very loud too! But it was a wonderful experience I would not have missed for the world!
The highlight of the evening
I won all the cards and dice games.