Not a hotel story, but the African uniforms reminded me of a tale.

My wife and I went skydiving in Namibia in 2002 with a group of people we'd met travelling. Namibia is a wonderful place with a [no doubt urban legend] reputation for having more paved roads per mile of person than any other country in the world - because the country is huge and there is hardly anyone there.

Anyway, we were at this tiny airfield with desert on one side as far as you could see and the glorious Atlantic on the other, going up 2-at-a-time to jump out of this tiny aircraft which was the only activity on the entire field. As we were about to board the pilot announced that we couldn't take off just yet as the Prime Minister was about to arrive! A couple of minutes later 3 jet-black Chevvy Suburbans come racing across the sand from the main road and a bunch of truly massive soldiers climb out and start deploying around our plane, with our reflections crystal clear in their sunglasses as we loiter on the sand. Next thing this Gulfsteam touches down and Sir with his camo uniform and more medals than are issued at an Olympics steps out, into one of the cars, and off they all go with lights flashing and sirens blaring.

We then load up and take off to enjoy this spectacular 25-30 minute flight that climbs to 12,000 feet and at about 10,000 the pilot starts pointing out his window and this Gulfstream goes screaming past underneath us over the desert and the ocean.

A poor nation, but some of them sure travel in style!


Edited because I can't spell.

[This message has been edited by kiwibigdave (edited 09-08-2003).]