If I were being truly honest with myself, I would've admitted that the outlook was bleak. Several hundred thousand people have descended on South Africa for the World Cup and one of the major headlines was a shortage of rooms - where were they all going to sleep? So my call to a local travel agent to inquire about a "lodging upgrade" on Saturday morning was, to say the least, a longshot. But longshots are worthwhile, especially when you are desperate. And, thankfully, this longshot paid off.
Adriann Kruger resembles a middle-aged David Attenborough - an amiable yet street savvy man who looks more like a seasoned traveller than a travel agent. I know this because Adriaan not only found us a terrific guest house at a reasonable rate in a great location - not to mention that it was at the last minute, after-hours on a Saturday - but he also came to meet us, show us the way to the guesthouse and make sure that we got settled.
International travel can be overwhelming. It puts you outside your comfort zone - the customs are different, the people are different. The everyday rules that subconsciously guide your decisions and behavior - from looking right when you cross the road to assessing whether a stranger is a menace - now require constant focus and attention. Extraordinary hospitality under these circumstances is, well, extraordinarily valuable. I don't know if this level of hospitality is common in South Africa. It would be rare in the US. In any case, I am thankful for Adriaan and Sonia at 2lifetravel for their extraordinary hospitality.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment