And I'm off to South Africa

Decided to play the extra day in Durban by ear – did not want more stress.  My trip went well Uber-ed to Newark 3 hours in advance.  The premium plus seat was excellent – maybe better than business class – just a little less private.  If I go back again – it will be premium plus instead of Business class – so much more affordable.  About 4 hours left of my 16 hour flight and I started the Deadpool movies. Actually I saw Deadpool/Wolverine on my flight home from California, although more violent than I would like, it was pretty funny. Pleasant way to pass the time. So far Premium Plus is a good experience (except my foot rest doesn’t work, so a letter will be written) decent sized seats.

Interesting when I first looked a business class seat it was offered at over 10k. This seat was @2K. It was a no brainer. Yesterday, I received an offer to up grade this leg of the flight for @1K which means if I I got the same offer on the way back, I would get the Business class seat for @7k less. Actually like this seat better. Not sure I will ever consider business class again if Premium plus is available.

I used my Arctic diary for this trip despite the fact it will be extremely hot and humid when I get there.  The travel goal (Marion Island) is Sub-Antarctic so I count it as Arctic!

A little stressed by the fact I haven’t heard from the driver who is supposed to meet me in Durban, but he was there – they hadn’t given him the +1 prefix that would allow the What’s App to work.  Tried to upgrade to business class on my Durban flight and I “bid” the highest amount allowed – my offer was not accepted, but there were more empty seats in Business class than full ones – makes no sense. I got a similar offer from the cruise to upgrade my room, which I did not do, but after chatting with some regular South African travelers – this is a new thing they are doing… very odd.  The leg room was tight on the trip down, but there is one row in the plane which has additional leg room – I was able to book that row on the way back.

It was absolutely teeming when I got there and got a little wet on the way into the hotel.  Then they gave me a room with a flooded bathroom (Clearly someone knew, the waste can was on the toilet)– so I called and got a new room.  When I arrived at the new room, a cockroach like insect ran across the bedside table – when I asked the bellman if he could kill it, he said he’d have to call maintenance.  I passed. 

The first room...

There was a loud, windy thunderstorm when I finally fell asleep (the room was very sticky and humid).  I realized the next morning that several of the windows were slightly open and I’m sure that contributed to the noise and the humidity.  Also realized there were no facecloths (washcloths) in the bathroom – apparently in South Africa hotels (and cruise ships) they do not provide them.

I realized recently that both of the people I talked to about buying my cabin were going anyway.  Victor (who I bought mine from) is sharing with some random person and Nadine told me that with the recent price reduction she could not sell her expensive cabin, so she ended up coming with her son. 

And I slept...