In praise of .... Nairobi Airport

So first stop on my Big Adventure seems tame enough ... Nairobi airport ... a place that i've rushed in and out of many times but never really stayed in for any amount of time .... and any airport at 530 in the morning is likely to be pretty rubbish - right?

Wrong - Nairobi airport rocks ....

The shops are hilarious ... there are about 75 of them ... all selling exactly the same thing namely afro-trash beads, kikoys (shawls) and carvings interspersed with bad wine and decent liquor ... eveything despite being the same has different prices but similar baleful sales assistants (which makes for comedy in itself) .... the internet cafes are snail-slow .... and the food options are limited to grease and lard ....

But its all redeemed (also in part by Java House - possibly the best coffee place in the whole of Africa) .... by the colour and the pageant ... you arrive in Nairobi airport and realise that the whole of Africa is passing through here ....

Johannesburg airport is a model of German efficiency and French design - all marble, glass and chic shops .... and you could easily mistake it for any airport in Europe ... the only black people there are of two extremes - either suited and booted/stockinged and stilletoed young black execs .... or the cleaners, security guards and general minions .... there's no in between ...

In Nairobi - the world is awash with bright colours, national dress and LOUD gabbling (no one in Africa seems to speak quietly) .... and even more so today because most of Africa seemed to be transiting through on their way to the conference in Kigali ...... it's chaotic, infuriating and totally utterly African ... and I love it ... ....

I wish i could have taken a picture of the lady in front of me in the rush for the plane (obviously no one queues here and seat numbers are deemed mere suggestions) .... she had on a parrot green Nigerian outfit .... an huge matching turban on her head ... and top of the turban she balanced a Louis Vuitton tote bag .... if that isn't modern Africa - I don't know what is ....