So after I caught the train from Angoulême I had what I like to call a ‘pre-layover’ in Charles de Gaulle. This was pretty chill. Not extremely comfortable but I was left alone. I had a nice setup as well.
Zach's portable buggy life:
Shit was pretty dope actually. Watched some movies and ate mad food that Anaïs mom made me.
Next morning I caught Saudia to Jeddah, where I had what I like to call my ‘post-layover’, about 12 hours spent in the terminal, of which we could not move out of. Think of confining over 1000 people at times more, to a room the size of half a football field.
Good sunset at least.
At least donuts.
In this situation I would have said ‘yea sure’, lets just leave the airport, right? Wrong buddy its almost impossible to get a travel visa in Saudi Arabia. You have to layover for over 18 hours. Thinking of visiting? Also really impossible they don’t really give tourist visas.
I would have gone to have a swim in the Red Sea, but apparently there’s a giant wall blocking it, from my inside information from a guy who’s been living there for 2 years. He says it isn’t too hard to get in you just have to have your passport and if you're American they wave you in. Thinking of going as a Saudi Arabian citizen? No that’s prohibited.
Saudi’s also apparently hate to work. Most of the labor force is Pakistani, Nepalese, and you guessed it Ethiopian. Though the Ethiopian maids are being made to leave after too much controversy and their poor treatment by the Saudis. Which is also happening in other places, like Lebanon.
Anyways my boarding time finally came and I got on the plane. It was mostly empty, and I think in fact that there were probably some maids there on the plane with me. Took a bit of a nap and woke up in time to see the entry to Addis.
Addis from above, you can see the crazy amount of condos up.
Welcome home.