a black day

Thursday we went to pick up Maria (Hazels mother) and Bill and drop Lon of for a short trip to Bujumbura at the same time. For some reason we were not allowed behind the customs but had to wait like normal people. Although we were slightly disappointed not having a special status, we didn't think anything of it. Unfortunately I couldn't see Maria and Bill, because unloading the plane took quite long and I had to catch the very same plane which was going on to Bujumbura.

So far so good.

Next day on my way back I gave Hazel a quick call to inform her of the one hour delay (could be worse). To my great disappointment she informed me of the changes that the authorities have made. Brace yourselves: We are not allowed to buy duty free at the airport any more. You can imagine the shock. Luckily there is a duty free as you arrive in Kigali (some smart Indian man opened this). However this man sells a lot but not the brand of cigarettes Maria smokes and no wine, the two things we wanted to buy. As logic goes here, they mentioned in the letter that they are qoute "thinking of opening a duty free shop in the centre", in stead of opening one in the centre first before closing the one in the airport. As they say in Dutch "a plaster on the wound" is that we can buy boose and claim VAT back afterwards, this however is not a guaranteed process, rules change and details are often wrong, like small spelling mistakes, weird dates, just name any excuses.

So, life just became slightly more expensive and less convenient, but still can't complain.