September 28 – October 1 – Zanzibar – Nairobi

These days were really quiet.  On the 28^th we had a long drive back to Zanzibar to get our covid test for UAE, and then catch our flight to Nairobi.  We are staying at the Nairobi Serena.  Turns out the hotel was a one hour drive from the airport (it was late at night) but the driver estimated it would be 2+ hours back to the airport because of the road construction…Tara had no clue.  Turns out the for the drive back our driver took the long (distance-wise) way to the airport, by-passing the traffic, and it was just over an hour.  

We got our Covid test results on the 29^th…we are still both negative…but other than that we didn’t leave the hotel until time to go to the airport to catch our flight to Dubai on Oct 1.

We have a red-eye flight to Dubai (hate those).  We are in business class with full lay down seats.  We both got some sleep but it still was hard.  We arrived in Dubai around 6:30 in the morning. 

It is so fascinating to see the safety briefing videos for some airlines (I must be a bit warped if I think there is anything fascinating about airplane safety videos) .  Some use local cultural things to demonstrate various safety features.  In Greenland it was people in kayaks and parkas.  In Hawaii it was beach, sand, leis and such.

We have now transferred from East Africa on Air Kenya to Dubai.  Air Kenya's motto is "The Pride of Africa" (get it...lions, prides).  Well, they had this friendly lion helping with the safety video.

Oct 1:  Covid checks and security screening:

This evening we headed to Nairobi airport for our flight to Dubai. They have some very unusual/overkill security practices. Upon arriving at the airport entrance we hit what looked like a large toll plaza. We (passengers) had to leave all our stuff in the vehicle, walk over to a small building and walk through the scanner. The car went through the gates (looked like no screening done of the car's contents) and we got back into the car. End of screening #1. 

Upon arrival at the terminal they checked our Covid test results and then we and our luggage went through scanners. Screening #2. 

We checked in at the ticket counter where they checked the Covid test again. 

After going through passport control we had to go through a full security screening again.   Screening #3. 

Upon arrival at the gate they checked the Covid test results yet again. 

Upon arrival in Dubai they checked our Covid test results yet again (that is #4 in case you lost count). And then we had to get another Covid test. They must have had 30 or so testing cubicles set so it went pretty fast. Now we can’t leave the hotel until we get our Covid test results back in under 24 hours. But at least we got this far.