We’re in Johannesburg! The flight from London was long but we slept for a good amount of it, and I have to say that South African Airways is fantastic. It was an overnight flight, and we got to watch an amazing sunrise when we were a few hours away from Johannesburg. The Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport is also really nice, and when we arrived we made it easily through customs, got our bags, and called our first hostel for their free airport pickup. It was a quiet ride to the hostel with our South African driver, which gave me a nice chance to take in the surroundings and really come to the realization that I was finally in Africa. Over a year of planning, and to finally be driving through a city in a country on a continent that until now I only had second-hand knowledge of was pretty exciting. The poverty was definitely observable as soon as we left the airport, not overwhelming by any means but we did pass a large slum along the highway
Our hostel is reaaaally nice, we got in early so our room wasn’t ready yet, but they let us leave our bags in the office and walk around the property, use the internet, and lounge out on one of their couches. We also played with the adorable black lab puppy that belongs to the managers. The hostel is in an eastern suburb of Johannesburg and has an amazing view of the city, a swimming pool, numerous courtyards, a bar with a jacuzzi in it, a computer lounge area, a big lounge with a big TV, etc., etc. I have the feeling this is going to be the nicest budget accommodation we’re going to stay at.
Michelle and I are just hanging out in the hostel tonight, there isn’t really anything close by to walk to, but tomorrow we’re planning on doing a tour of Soweto, Johannesburg’s biggest township, and visiting the Apartheid Museum.