The Trip

The taxi arrived early and off we headed to the airport. At the airport most of the entrances are closed, even in the elevator it’s one person at a time. I checked in my luggage and it went so smoothly. I say this because I am notorious for being overweight ha-ha. So I roam around before finally deciding to go to my gate, but there was still plenty of time.

Not so long after, a guy and a lady walk up to me. The lady just showed me her police badge and asked me to follow her. I’ve never felt scared like that. I was just imagining what would have gone wrong and just how they could single me out. They took me to some room where I confirmed my 2 bags I had checked in earlier. So she asked me to open and step back. They even started a conversation with me as the lady continued the search my bag. At this point I still don’t know what they are looking for.  Then she points out a bubble wrap saying that was what couldn’t be detected.

When she was done putting everything back to place I locked my bag and she took me back to the boarding gate. I think she saw how shook I was and asked if it was my first time to be taken into that room. Yessss it was.

Soon we started boarding, everyone was given a mask if even if you had one. There was an extra seat left empty in between the passengers but the plane was barely half full. I even moved and had a 3seater all to myself. I slept throughout the whole flight.

Tuesday morning around 11, we landed safely in Orly airport Paris. I needed to get transportation to Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport because that was where I would board the KQ flight. I figure out how to buy my train ticket and struggle with my two heavy bags. A nice stranger helps me out with my bags till CDG. My next step was to get a hotel inside the airport but none was opened, thanks to the virus. Fortunately I got one just 10minutes away.

It was almost 4pm now. I just dropped my bags, freshened up and left to be a tourist. I wasn’t going to waste my half day layover nursing my jetlag.

I met up with Sam who was my kuzurura buddy for the day.

We went from Sacré-Cœur to Moulin Rouge to even having a picnic dinner by the street at Île aux cygnes and me missing the last train back to the hotel and ending up being dropped past 3am by some kind bus driver.

The highlight for my day was locking a love padlock at the Pont de l’Alma bridge next to the Eiffel Tower and the great peace that overwhelmed me when I was walking inside Sacré-Cœur, it should be on your bucket list. Catch up with the vlog ;  https://youtu.be/1mOK3QVJ0EY

The following day, 8^th July, was the flight back to Kenya. I was ready in time for my ride to the airport. During check in, a representative from the Kenyan Embassy in France was present to confirm our Covid certificates; the same was also done during boarding. In the flight all the KQ attendants were fully dressed in protective gear and issued out masks. People were later spread out to observe the social distance. I just got myself a whole 4seater to sleep. Masks were put on unless while eating and as part of their Covid preventive measures, blankets, the small toiletry bag and ear phones were not distributed.

Once we touched down, we had to fill a health form and people were let out one by one, mot the usual crowding at the exit. Our temperatures were taken and though the process was long I was happy we were allowed self quarantine because before I knew I was going to quarantine in a government facility.

I am so happy to have made it for the flight, the one week preparation was just tedious. Incase you missed the vlog ; https://youtu.be/L85i59CkEO4

Until the next trip, so long…