Packing - Part II

4 hours later...

It is going to be awesome carrying all this around the airport(s).

Light a candle for us.

Mathieu

Packing - Part 1

Before

Mathieu

Good read

This is an interesting ESPN article. I think Adis will like the malls.

Cancellation :-(

So....today we found out that our flight from Abidjan to Addis Ababa (on our way to South Africa) has been cancelled...ugh!!  This is definitely going to be an adventure!  We are waiting until tomorrow morning to figure out our options and get a confirmation.  Looks like we will be spending one more night in Addis on the 15th if our flight changes. ----Adis

---

The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with Hotmail. Get busy.

Jody Altidore comment.

Yahoo Sports reported today that Jody Altidore predicted that the US will beat England 3-0...WTF.
If I am the US coach I would put a gag order on all my players....clearly the players are sniffing glue.
No other players but US players are talking trash...you know why? Because they know how big of a stage the World Cup is…there is no need to give motivation to other Nations.
Holla!
Yves-Thierry
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Allez Les Elephants!

Meet Mariam...the newest member of the Les Elephants. She just turned 15 months old today!

---

The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with Hotmail. Get busy.

Packing, Packing, Packing!

This is what our guest room looks like now....--Adis

---

The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with Hotmail. Get busy.

Gear

Caleb steps up his Ivorian game with some shades. Watch out!

Mathieu

Useful for the plane - I plan on doing that

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/05/06/business/businessspecial/20100506-pack-ss.html

Cote d'Ivoire Travel Warning

Allright folks.....got this Travel Warning today...hope all will be okay....some countries should just be issued a permanent warning (so now we know of Travel Advisories for Ethiopia and Cote d'Ivoire...just waiting to get one on South Africa...just kidding).....Cote d'Ivoire had a warning when Yves and I went in 2006

---Adis

May 12, 2010

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the continued risks of traveling to Cote d'Ivoire and urges them to exercise caution while traveling there.  This replaces the Travel Warning for Cote d'Ivoire dated September 22, 2009 to update information on the security and political situation, and to advise of the increased probability of political demonstrations and unrest. Cote d'Ivoire has been a divided country since a 2002 failed coup attempt evolved into an armed rebellion that split the country in two.  Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo and New Forces leader Guillaume Soro signed the Ouagadougou Political Agreement (OPA) in March 2007, and a new government was formed with Soro as Prime Minister (PM).  Implementation of the accord, including federal elections, is ongoing, but long-awaited elections have been postponed repeatedly.  No new date for elections has been announced since cancellation of elections in November 2009.  The government has not regained full control of the northern part of the country, which remains under the de-facto control of the New Forces. 

Since the ruling party's charges of fraud against the President of the Independent Electoral Commission in December 2009, there has been one large anti-government rally and several incidents of localized violence as opposition parties protested lack of due process in removing names from the voter registration list.  On February 12, President Laurent Gbagbo dissolved the Government of Cote d'Ivoire and disbanded the federal election commission, delegating his Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro, to form a new government. The U.S. Embassy in Abidjan and the Department of State continue to monitor the political situation in Cote d'Ivoire closely, and advise U.S. citizens that there is new potential for spontaneous demonstrations and political unrest that could escalate into violence.  U.S. citizens should stay current on media coverage of local events, and be aware of their surroundings at all times.  Because of the increased probability of political unrest and potential violence, it is especially important for Americans traveling to or residing in Cote d'Ivoire to exercise extreme caution and defer travel during periods of political tension.

In early February, the Government of Cote d'Ivoire began major rolling power cuts throughout the country, the first in over 15 years, which may add to the current climate of heightened political tension. The United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) currently operates a peacekeeping mission, and France maintains the Force Licorne in Cote d'Ivoire in support of UNOCI. 

Given the unpredictable and sometimes tense situation in regions throughout the country, and the ongoing presence of two distinct military/peacekeeping forces, the Department of State urges U.S. citizens to exercise caution should they travel to Cote d'Ivoire, and to take special care when traveling outside Abidjan.  Security conditions in the north and in the west can deteriorate without warning.  Embassy personnel traveling to western Cote d'Ivoire are often required to use security escorts provided by the United Nations.  U.S. citizens planning travel to Cote d'Ivoire should consult the Embassy or their host organization(s) for the most recent security assessment of the areas where they plan to travel.  Crimes such as mugging, robbery, burglary, and carjacking pose high risks for foreign visitors in Abidjan.  Visitors should be careful when stopped in heavy traffic or at roadblocks due to the threat of violent robbery, and should avoid travel outside of the city after dark.  Land routes to neighboring countries are open, although overland travel to Liberia and Guinea is strongly discouraged, and caution is urged when crossing into Mali, Burkina Faso, and Ghana. 

The U.S. Embassy in Abidjan, previously a partially unaccompanied post, allowed minor dependents to return to post as of June 2009 because of the improving situation at that time.  However, Embassy personnel and dependents are required to adhere to strict security policies and procedures.  Embassy employees are instructed to be cautious when traveling within Abidjan and not to travel outside of the city at night.  Private U.S. citizens are urged to follow the same guidelines.  Embassy personnel must obtain prior approval before traveling more than 35 kilometers outside Abidjan.  Some requests may be denied, or multi-vehicle convoys may be required for security reasons.  Because of the potential for violent eruptions and the potential need to shelter in place or leave affected areas, U.S. citizen residents in Cote d'Ivoire should maintain several days' supply of cooking fuel, food, and water at home, and ensure that their vehicles remain fully fueled at all times. 

The U.S. Embassy is located in the Riviera Golf neighborhood of the Cocody section of Abidjan.  The Embassy may close to the public temporarily from time to time in response to security developments.  U.S. citizens who remain in, or travel to, Cote d'Ivoire despite this Travel Warning should consult the Department of State's latest Country Specific Information for Cote d'Ivoire and the Worldwide Caution.  U.S. citizens should register with the Embassy by completing a registration form on-line at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/, or by calling (225) 22-49-40-00, or faxing (225) 22-49-42-02.  U.S. citizens in Cote d'Ivoire who need emergency assistance should contact the Embassy at (225) 22-49-40-00.  U.S. citizens may also contact the Consular Section for assistance by writing to AbjAmcit@state.gov.

Current information on safety and security may also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the United States and Canada, or, for callers outside of the United States and Canada, by calling a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). 

---

The New Busy think 9 to 5 is a cute idea. Combine multiple calendars with Hotmail. Get busy.

My Traveling Pharmacy

Spent almost $100.00 at CVS buying everything you can imagine for our great adventure....
Pedialyte--Check
Pepto-Bismol--Check
Immodium--Check
Tums-Check
Sunscreen-Check
Anti-Bacterial Wipes-Check
Anti-Bacterial Hand Sanitizer-Check
Lysol Travel Size Spray--Check
Johnson & Johnson First Aid to Go Travel Kit-Check
Insect Repellent-Check
Anti-Itch Lotion for Bug Bites-Check
Excederin-Check
Zyrtec-Check
 
4 adults and 2 babies not getting sick on a 3 week trip to the motherland-PRICELESS!

---

The New Busy is not the old busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. Get started.

A thought about catching flights....

When we were in San Diego one time, they had a sign showing the shade of an immigrant family crossing the highway into the US.

For some reason, I think this is going to be us running to our flight(s).......Mathieu

---

The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with Hotmail. Get busy.

US player Mr. London Donovan

So yesterday or the day before Mr London Donovan said " The biggest thing we learned from the confederation cup was that we can compete with and beat any team in the world as long as we play our best. Not many team in the world can say that"
Wow...the nerves on that guy!
Mr. Donovan you will have a rude awakening...the confederation cup is nothing like the world cup...you should know that. In addition, you are seriously underestimating Algeria...word of wisdom...African nations will always play like they have a chip on their shoulders..you better bring it Mr. Donovan.
My predictions: England and Algeria will get out of group C.
Thay's right I said it!
Yves.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Received this information from ET Airlines today:  Why do I have a funny feeling that this will be the first of many "flight changes"?  I am just saying.....based on past experiences :-(  Delays and flight changes will all be part of the adventure, right?

Ethiopian Airlines flight number 0808, originally scheduled to depart from Johannesburg Airport on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 02:05 PM has been changed. The flight will now depart on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 02:10 PM.

Gate assignments are subject to change, so please contact Ethiopian Airlines for updated departure or arrival gate information. You can also visit us at www.virtuallythere.com on your web or mobile device to retrieve the latest flight information. 

---

The New Busy is not the old busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. Get started.

Planning for the weather

So, during the first leg of our trip (10 days), it looks like temperatures will be in the 70s and 80s.  Then, for the second leg (7 days), we are looking at temperatures in the 40s to 60s.

How do you pack for that as an adult, let alone 16 and 8 months old kids?

Excess luggage fees, here we come.

Cool Site

They are going to stay in business, thanks to adis.

www.zazzle.com

Mathieu

Sign the ball to help Rotary Kick Polio Out of Africa

Sign the soccer ball!

http://www.kickpoliooutofafrica.org

---
This message was sent by kbe63@yahoo.com via http://addthis.com. Please note that AddThis does not verify email addresses.

Make sharing easier with the AddThis Toolbar: http://www.addthis.com/go/toolbar-em

We are all set!

Picking up the game tickets while there will be a breeze.

Mathieu