Making reservations

Did I say that our trip to the North and Extreme North provinces was probably the best time we’ve had since I’ve been here? As a matter of fact, it was one of the most truly restful times Akilah has had since being here. Even though we never made it to a few of the places we intended to, it was still a good trip.

Today was just my day to rest from a long week I certainly needed it. When Akilah awoke from her nap after returning from school, she did a little work then we walked over to the cabine to make a few calls. She needed to check with Becky about the visit from the Batié English club, and I needed to call and make reservations at the Ibis Hotel in Douala.

When preparing to come, I researched hotels on the internet, and was only able to find two listed. Le Meridian, where I almost stayed at 90000 CFAs per night (that would’ve been way too much) and the Ibis, which was listed around 35000 per night (more around the average for a nice hotel). The brochure I’d picked up in the lobby of the Mercure Hotel in Yaoundé this past weekend had a reservation number. Not wanting to take any chances, I had to call and make reservations, and ascertain whether they accepted credit cards.

The women at the Mizao Hotel in the Extreme North didn’t know what she was talking about, this was one of at least three hotels in Cameroon that accepted credit cards. This one in particular takes MasterCard, Visa and AMEX; so you know I was more than happy to make a reservation for three nights.

Afterwards, we checked to make sure of which cell phone to buy later this week, and then Akilah went off for her adult class, where I met her later so we could have beans and beignets; at least that was our intentions. The bar where we usually sit didn’t have their TV so we figured to have dinner at the Bumibi.

I spent my time before meeting her at class, trying to call home. It’s now time for me to find out how I’m getting from Dulles Airport home. None of my calls went through to my friend April who was going to help me call around; I think she was on-line (if you know me, you’ll know why I say it like that).

However, I did reach Akilah’s mom, Rev. Clarke, who was kind enough to call and have my travel insurance policy extended. Don’t need something to happen to me now and not be able to get financial assistance for medical attention.