I had a premonition that something was going to happen when about three weeks before the trip I got the travel package from Eyes on Africa, the outfit that we booked the workshop through. In the documents they sent was a statement that read something like ..."entry into South Africa requires the traveler to have two blank pages in their passport" I contacted Eyes on Africa and asked how literal that requirement was as I had exactly two and a half blank pages. I was told I should be fine and that was that.

Unfortunately that was not the end of this story. When we got to the gate in Atlanta, all travelers with non South African passports were asked to check in at the counter. When we got there and after inspection of my passport, I was told, "Mr. Shatara, you are not going to South Africa tonight." My heart and stomach felt as if they would crash into my ankles. The reason I was told was that I did not have two blank "VISA" pages. While I had two blank pages, they were not marked "Visas". The official then turned to my son and asked "Are you going or not." All the planning had fallen to the floor and I couldn't think straight. Finally reality set in and we told them my son would stay with me.

We were then taken to another counter where we were given the address of the Atlanta passport office, their phone number and we were re booked onto the Monday evening flight. (This was Saturday night). We were booked in a local hotel and given instructions on where and when to retrieve our luggage.

What do we do now. I had the phone number for the person who was to meet us in Johannesburg. I call him and left a message that were would be two days late. I called the Chicago office of Eyes on Africa and left a message. When we finally got wifi, I sent emails to Eyes on Africa and Andy Biggs, the photographer leading the workshop.

There was nothing left to do than retrieve our luggage and get a few drinks...doubles, triples, hell the whole bottle.

It took 6 hours to get our luggage. In the meantime we had checked into the local Sheraton (which Delta paid for) and get settled in our room. Checking our email, we saw a strange entry from Delta saying that my son was free to check in on line. Not good as we were flying on Monday not Sunday. Turns out they booked my son on the Sunday flight and me on the Monday flight. (I am not making this up!) Back to the airport we go to get the tickets straightened out. Then back to the Sheraton to eat and then back to the airport to get our bags. It is now midnight.

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