Wrap it up, wrap it in

Following Supertramp's advice, I took the long way home from Lilongwe:

Took off from the Lilongwe Kamuzu Airport, named after the first president/dictator of the country, Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda. Apparently Kamuzu means "roots". The cult of personality is strong. Watched the land fall away beneath us, an orange-brown expanse speckled with dark, stubborn trees.

Flew for a brief one-hour stop over in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where we hung out inside the plane on the tarmac for an hour, watching UN planes load cargo before taking off again.

Long layover in Addis Ababa, where three friendly teenage Ethiopian girls shared their dinner with me and a pair of Indian men insisted I pose for pictures with them. The whole airport smells like burning frankincense and seeping black coffee. Have decided Ethiopia might have to be my next big adventure. Already composing future Innervated posts in my head.

Then 24 hours in London, putzing around Covent Garden and marveling at the wonders that are salad and Mexican food. Naively rented a bike, neglecting to realize that I 1) have no knowledge of the city layout or 2) ability to drive/bike on the left side of the road. Sweating bullets but lots of fun. Great theater at the Old Vic with my uncle's brother, a fine American ex-pat.

And then home on Sunday morning to Chicago, seriously confused about what time it was and what this water coming out the sky could be. I left in the summer and came back in the fall. But at least there are Honeycrisps.

Annnnnnd photo highlights, for anyone interested.