Ras Dika hotel, Djibouti
4 February 2025
You know how people (including me) say TIA – This is Africa, whenever something goes wrong, when things are unpredictable, improvised, slow, inefficient: no hot water (or only scalding water) in the shower, power cuts, the bus is late, the list goes on.
Well, I was feeling a bit under the weather last night and this morning, so I decided to skip today’s plans, stay in and catch up on sleep. Then the phone rings. Reception, asking about check-out. Or so I think.
Not quite. It is reception, but this is how it goes:
– How are you feeling, my dear?
– Better. About to take a shower, then I’ll come down and check out.
– No, no, don’t you worry about that! Do you need anything? Can I bring breakfast to your room?
– No, thank you. I’m not very hungry.
– Take it easy. You need some lemon juice. I will send up lemon juice. And some banana cake.
– OK, thank you. I’ll go out in a little while. Can I leave my bag at reception? My flight is at 19.45
– OK, you need to go to the airport about 17.00, then. No need to bring the bag down. Leave it in the room, then you can come back and rest after you have been out. Keep the room until you go to the airport.
A timely reminder that this – this is also Africa, everyone’s mother.
