A Thousand Miles An Hour: Day One

My second day was just a whirlwind. I was still getting dressed when I received a call that my ride had arrived to go to the office. I lied and said I was ready, had ate breakfast, and grabbed my luggage as quickly as I could (the initial hotel had been way too expensive and not nearly impressive).

After a brief stay at the office, I endeavored to knock off some must-do errands: get a cell phone, withdraw some money … and eat for the first time. The cell phone I had brought was apparently locked to European SIMS only (somehow), and my debit card was rejected. I also discovered that all withdrawals cost 22 USD regardless of how much you take out. It wasn’t a great few hours, and my frustration increased steadily. On top of that, I was expected to start learning the city without a map … once again, I can get lost in Thunder Bay (nay, at times, even a basement), so this is a daunting task. I still haven’t figured out how I will safely and affordably travel around the city. Busses no longer exist; they have been replaced by “Taxis” which are essentially Taxi-cabs, which are utilized to carry up to a dozen people (or more) between pre-designated locations (get in the wrong one, and you are lost, son). The alternative is the boda-boda, which most of the locals warn against; they have a high casualty rate and the majority of emergency room visits in the city are by them. However, they are faster in the traffic, and if you get a good driver, you will always end up at your location. What we Canadians would label “taxis” or “cabs” they refer to as “special hires” here. They are an alternative, and definitely the best night time option, however traffic locks up at key times of the day and travel by a car can be quite time-consuming.

The highlight of the day was definitely my new Inn: the Premier Inn. Much more affordable and much more clean and accommodating than my first hotel. The staff are super friendly – I spent quite a while speaking with the security guards about football – and the house staff goes out of their way to make you feel welcome. I also ran into some Canadians, which was quite welcome and I watched a very sloppy game of cards, while I struggled with the internet. An overwhelming day, but it was nice to find a little haven in the midst of it.