The Flag of Senegal

It's Wednesday afternoon and I'm getting the API(Advance Passenger Information)  ready to submit to World Airways for my groups return to the United States on Saturday.  With the conference ending after the groups Thursday night gala and with Friday a free day for delegates to shop visit Zuma Rock or just chill.  I was looking forward to relaxing for a couple days as well.  That was until I found out that I was going to Dakar, Senegal.

I was informed Wednesday afternoon that the group had been invited to visit and spend Friday night in Dakar, Senegal as guest of Senegalese President Wade.  I was told to be ready at 2pm on Thursday to go to the airport in Abuja as I was going to fly with President Wade and his delegation to Senegal.  I met with the Senegalese ambassador to Nigeria on Thursday morning to get a better understanding of what was going to happen and what I would be doing once in Senegal.  I gave him the the list of those coming to Senegal as well as a rooming list that they could send to the Le Meridien President hotel in Dakar.  He also let me know to be ready to move quickly once President Wade was in his vehicle as our vehicle would be part of the police escort to the Abuja Airport and we could not get separated from the escort.  Once the President was on board the plane the flight would take off with or without us.    

At 2pm Thursday my experience started and what an hour it was.  Once President Wade was in his vehicle it was a mad rush to the other vehicles.  Including myself and the Ambassador there was a total for five in the vehicle and we took off.  There were ten vehicles that were part of the police escort and I was in vehicle number 10.  The problem with being the last vehicle is the increase chance of getting separated from the escort which is what happened.  Realizing what happened our driver did everything he could to catch up.  Once we got on the new four lane highway which was so new they hadn't even painted the single white lines yet, it was a free fall all.  Before closing my eyes I looked over at the Ambassador and said to let me know when it's OK to open my eyes.  After 20 nervous minutes we caught up to the convoy with all of us having a laugh. The flight left Abuja at 330pm arriving Dakar 7pm.  By the time I cleared customs and got to my room at the Le Meridien it was appx 8pm.   

Once the plane took off I met President Wade and his Minister of Tourism.  They let me know all of the transportation had been arranged, the hotel and all of the meals had been taken care of.  They needed me to make sure the Le Meridien had the correct names, rooming list which I did on Thursday night.  They also let me know that I needed to collect all of the delegates passports upon their arrival on Friday for immigration to stamp their arrival into Dakar, since the delegates were leaving from the airport to a dedication and to process 250 people would take to long. 

On Friday morning I was in contact with my group in Abuja with their departure  scheduled for 9am.  After their arrival at 1230pm I met the plane and collected all the passports as delegates left the plane to get on the buses that were waiting to transfer them to the dedication.  I then put my attention to the luggage to make sure all of the luggage made it to the trucks to be transferred to the hotel.  While waiting for the plane to arrive I met with the United States Ambassador to Senegal and I'm glad I add the opportunity because there was one passenger who had lost his passport after checking in for the flight in Abuja.  I let the Ambassador know and he was able to get things taken care so this delegate could return to the states with the group on Saturday. 

After leaving the airport I went to the hotel where I worked with the staff to make sure the delegates luggage was in their rooms and for passports to be with the room keys when the delegates arrived at the hotel a few hours later.  Even though there were some issues at the hotel overall this process went smoothly with everyone getting their passports, having a room and their luggage. 

On Saturday the flight back to Atlanta left at 1pm for a 5pm arrival in Atlanta.  Working with the government and World Airways we chose the departure time of 1pm for two reasons.  The main reason is the arrival time in Atlanta had to be around the same time we had scheduled when the flight was originally returning from Abuja to avoid any issues with those delegates that had domestic connections.  The second reason was the government had arranged for everyone to visit Goree Island.  Those that visited Goree Island left the hotel at 6am and arrived at the airport at 11am which allowed enough time to get their luggage checked and to get through immigration.  I went to the airport at 9am to be there for those that did not visit Goree Island.  Even with a few minor issues the flight left Dakar a few minutes early which got us to Atlanta at appx 430pm.    

Next up Abuja, Nigeria 2006

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