airports - Curious Karibella

2023-12-212024-01-20

Quark Expeditions: Antarctica, Day 7

Thursday 21/12/2023

Location: Kind George Island, Antarctica to Punta Arenas, Chile, South America

Agenda: Going to Punta Arenas

Goodbye Antarctica

We woke up early to get out of our cabins so they could be cleaned. Today, a new group of passengers comes in on the plane that we leave on. The entire ship had to be perfectly clean for this new group while the old group is leaving! I ate breakfast and waited for the pink group to be called to the gangway. As I was waiting I went around the ship taking photos and videos of my favorite places. When pink group was called I went down to the mudroom and geared up for the last time. As me and my family waited to go down to a zodiac we said goodbye to all the guides that we knew who were in the mudroom. Ema helped me down to the zodiac which reminded me that she was also the person who helped me onboard the ship on the first day. The ride back to shore felt very long but also too short. I watched the ship get smaller and tried to freeze the moment.

On land, guides helped us get our lifejackets off and get into busses. We took busses up to the “airport waiting area.” It was just some container like buildings on stilts. It was impressive that there was a waiting area at all! I waited outside on the “porch.” When the planes flew in we had a first rate view of their landing! The busses went to collect the new Antarctic travelers. The funniest part was when they all drove past us looking out the windows in wonder. I waved at everyone and a lot of people waved back. I hoped that they were exited about their adventure. The funny thing about my first moments on Antarctica was that I didn’t know anything about what was going on. Like It was all just so new that it seemed funny. I just followed instructions staring around at all the beautiful things! These people were doing the same. Soon Busses took quark group 1 up to the first plane which was funnily enough painted to look like a gentoo penguin! Getting off the bus to the plane went Way too fast. I felt like as soon as I was on the plane I was cut off from Antarctica which felt so sad.

Back In The Real World

Antarctica felt like a wonderland. Punta Arenas felt so normal compared to the ice landscape. It almost felt weird. The landscape in Antarctica feels so natural because there is not human life but in Punta Arenas there are humans everywhere and buildings. I prefer barren nature places to cities because it feels like a little safe haven.

At the Airport in Punta Arenas we got our bags and boarded a bus that took us back to the hotel. For the rest of the day me and my siblings worked on sorting bags to prepare for our drive to Puerta Natales. It felt so weird to not be in Antarctica. We went to a fun dinner in town and tried to sleep before our next adventure.

Photos from today!

A great qout they played on the program the day we left

2022-10-032023-10-01

My Last Day in South Africa

Starting Off with Signal Hill Paragliding

I woke up sad, not feeling ready to leave Africa. In addition to packing, we were all getting ready for paragliding. I was not going to participate in the activity because I was too scared, but I was happy for my siblings and parents to do it.

First, we drove to the top of Signal Hill. At the top, the wind wasn’t right for launching the paragliding, so we got some rooibos tea and waited. When the wind was good, I got in a car to be driven down to the bottom and my family got geared up to fly. I talked to the driver all the way down and when I got to the bottom, I arrive just in time to see mom land. The landings were so smooth! You just floated right to the ground and stood up.

In hindsight I wish I had done the paragliding now that I know that it is fun and safe to do. I just get timid sometimes about new experiences that sound scary, like running as fast as you can towards a cliff overlooking the city and jumping off of it (which is what you do to launch paragliding off Signal Hill). Sounds very safe, right? Next time though, I think I will be up for it.

Before Africa I did not really have a favorite place in the world. Before Africa I was sure that Africa would be the last place our family went and we would all be bitten by snakes. Just FYI we did not see a single snake besides the snakes in the museum. I have decided that Africa is my Favorite Place in the international world! The people are amazing, the food is great, the climate does not completely kill you and it is an amazing continent!

Heading Off the Gluten Path

After Paragliding we started walking back to the house we had rented, but then mom remembered that there was a gluten free bakery nearby called Off the Gluten Path. It was a little far to walk, so we got an Uber, but when we arrived at the place, it was just an apartment complex. We figured out that the location on Google Maps was outdated and the real bakery location was on the opposite side of Cape Town, about a 30 minute drive away. When we arrived, it was not an apartment complex – it was heaven! I kept asking “is that gonna be gluten free?” because I wasn’t used to things like croissants, French bread, donuts, cupcakes and cake being gluten free.

For lunch I shared some pizza with Zeb and Bardez. I also got a slice of the red velvet cake. Me and Bardez were allowed to get some little things for the plane ride later that day, so I got a carrot muffin and a croissant. When we had to go, we were all sad, but I really did have to pack, so I was kind of glad to go.

Leaving for the Cape Town Airport

After getting back to the house from our Gluten Free adventures, I finished packing my bags. We had a lot to try and stuff in to our bags, and several boxes of souvenirs we had collected along our journeys in Africa. Dad got the boxes taped up and then it was time for goodbyes and calling an Uber.

It was sad to say goodbye to my dad and older brother and sister, who were going to stay for another week in Africa, but I was also kind of excited to have a break from them and go on an adventure with just mom and Bardez. We were heading back and going all the way to my grandparents vineyard in Oregon to help with the grape harvest which had just started.

22 Hours of Flying: Cape Town to Newark, Newark to Portland

Once we got to the airport and checked our bags and boxes we headed through security and into the airport. My mom was able to take us in to the British Airways lounge even though we were flying on United Airlines back to the US. The lounge was very nice and it was a great place to have a break before the long flight. They even had macaroons, delicious brie cheese, and Appletizers. You might be asking, what is an “Appletizer”? Good question. In the US we would call it sparkling apple juice. It’s like Martinelli’s. But, these come in convenient cans and are extra tasty. I was sad to say goodbye to Africa and Appletizers.

When it was time we boarded the plane for our flight to America. We were flying United Airlines this time, not Delta. The plane was great, but the flight attendants were not very nice. They were downright mean, as if they hated that there were customers on the flight. I did not like that. If I am ever a flight attendant, I would like to be a nice one. Maybe they were just having a bad day, or maybe they should not be working on a 16 hour long flight if they can’t be polite to their customers. Hopefully United Airlines will figure out how to get its staff to be happier, like Delta Airlines staff usually are.

Finally, Arriving at Zenith Vineyard in Oregon

After flying for 16 hours from Cape Town to Newark and then 6 hours from Newark to Portland we finally arrived to Oregon! We got in our car and drive to Zenith Vineyard. My mom said we had to stay awake until 7pm so we would not jet lag too badly. I tried my best, and made it just barely to 7. Tomorrow, it’s harvest time!

2022-08-282022-09-10

Discovering Nairobi, Kenya – Churches, Markets, Slums and More

The First Visit to Nairobi

Our first visit to Nairobi started at midnight in a hot, stuffy airport. Getting through customs was long and not fun. The only fun part was when I made my passport photo face at the person checking our passports.

For those of you who don’t know, when I got my last passport and when they took my photo, I smiled a sweet smile, but to my astonishment, they said I was not allowed to smile. Now my passport photo looks like I am a hiker trying to stare down a mama bear. In other words, I don’t look happy.

The outside air was not hot, thankfully. Hot outside air is the last thing anyone needs when coming off a late-night flight. It took us so long to get our sim cards, long enough for Bardez to fall asleep by mom, on the floor, outside. He was pretty cute.

When we finally got our sim cards, we got into the hotel taxi. There was nobody at the hotel except the security guard. They had to find someone to check us in. It took a while to get room keys, but it eventually happened.

The hotel was excellent. But not somewhere that I would want to go back to. The food was delicious and the staff was friendly, but it was not a stunning experience. I would rate the Double Tree Hilton four stars.

Second Stay in Nairobi

Our second stay in Nairobi after being in the Masai Mara was much better. We stayed at a different hotel called the Movenpick. The rooms were more beautiful, and the food was so much better! At breakfast, there were always gluten-free cupcakes and bread. They would also label everything saying if it was gluten-free or not. On Sunday, we went to the same church we attended the previous Sunday. After Church, we had an afternoon at the hotel.

To our delight and surprise, there was a beautiful lunch buffet and a kid’s play area with bracelet making. I made about five bracelets, one of which was completely gold, and I wore it to dinner that night. The restaurant was a revolving restaurant at the top of the hotel where we could see most of the city while we ate our dinner. I would rate this hotel five stars and add that the staff was excellent and friendly. I would also visit again and explore Nairobi more extensively.