After canceling my African trip to the Serengeti, I head to Cape Town instead without a hotel scheduled, a rental car or any type of map or agenda on what I will do there.  It is a nice way to travel and I have grown accustomed to having fun getting accustomed to a new country quickly often changing any plans that I created anyway. 
The Serengeti National Park has captured my attention since reading about it on the Top Natural Wonders of the World .   It has a unique eco-system where the animals continue a circular path around the Serengeti plains going from one area to another depending on the water in that area.  Although I may botch this description, it is self-sustaining because the animals always seem to have water and food to eat.  Each animals serves a purpose of food for another animal and plants and animals all seem to reproduce without getting depleted.  The area has fought hunters and others that have over killed the animals, but has continued to reproduce for several year.  They have concerns for its future, but I really like how it was described to me.  "Something like, the wildebeasts travel in a circular pattern around the Serengeti, the tigers, lions, cheetahs, and other animals the prey on wildebeasts wait for them to continue their journey to their area. When they come around, they get their food."  
So, with the pirate ship attack off Somalia a few months ago, the US soldiers killed some of the pirates and took a few into custody.  The US hoped to take the pirates in custody and try them in the nearest country which they were hoping would be Kenya.  The pirates in return retaliated by saying they would kill everyone on the ships they attacked and target Americans.  I had to fly into Nairobi, Kenya to get to the Serengeti National Park and I figured it would not be a good time to fly into this city.  It is an expensive trip and not something that I could just wait and see what happens in Kenya.  
Traveling to Africa, we fly south over Melbourne and then take advantage of the Earth's contours and fly near Antartica to get to Africa.  I watch closely out my window as the pilot says that he notify us if there are any glaciers that we fly over.  The seas are rough and I see nothing but white caps out my window.  I have grown accustomed to flying Business Class. My bag weighs too much..."not a problem sir, we will just put a heavy sticker on your luggage." There is a long line at check-in, "not a problem sir, that is for the regular people your private check in person is waiting for you over here."  I hit a line at security..."not a problem, they have their own security people in the business class check in lounge that pre-screen you so you bypass this line.  And if the airport does not have this, you once again go to the front of these long lines."  And after getting through security, they make sure you are not too stressed out and offer you a private VIP lounge to go to while waiting for your plane.  When checking into the VIP lounge, a receptionist greets you and takes your flight number so she can call you when your flight decides to board.  Heaven forbid you wait for a minute or two with regular people for your plane to board.  As you arrive on the plane ahead of anyone else, your luggage compartments are almost completely empty most of the time and the flight attendant has your name remembered as she asks you what you would like to drink, "champagne, orange juice or water?"  She brings you a wash cloth shortly before take-off which I copy others and gently wash my hands and dab the warm cloth behind my ears and grown a little as if I am under a lot of stress.  I have perfected this process and if I am boarding a plane after a place like Machu Picchu, I return the previous white cloth with brown dirt stains representing the areas I camped during the previous week.  Your pillow is thick and comfortable, your blanket is sometimes made of down and your seat has a private tv and remote control for adjusting the position of your seat to any angle you could possible want to put yourself into.  Each plane can be slightly different and although I am getting more experienced with this Bus Class seat, often simple stuff like how to find my tray, how to put my seat back or where my TV is can take me a few minutes. In attempt to appear like I do this stuff all the time, I try to casually agree to everything, nodding my head with a imcomprehendable noise when she asks if I want a wash cloth or champagne."  
Sure there have been hic-cups along the way and learning experiences that I had to go through.  Like on the trip to Africa, I was mind boggled how to release the TV from between my two seats.  As I am bent over looking at it pushing all the buttons, I hit the right button and it swings up from no-where almost clocking me in the face.  I jerk my face out of the way just in time and quickly look around to make sure no one noticed.  Although I am sure they did, they continue to First Class form and don't budge of show any signs of noticing my boxing match with the portable TV.  
Or on the plane from Melbourne to Sydney, the flight attendant had a strong Australian accent.  As I sat with mostly Australians, she came by with the dinner tray and asked if I would like some tea. I responded, "No, but I will have a glass of your Red Wine."  She gave me my wine and served the gal next to me food and a beverage.  As I watch the others eat their gourmet pasta meal, I wonder when she is going to offer something to me.  She never comes and I ask the Australian lady next to me if Tea means a meal in Australia.  She informs me that Tea is often referred to as an early meal and I see where the confusion took place.  
The chair adjustments are a separate conversation on their own.  I believe they need an owners manual to operate with adjustments for every possible position.  During my first flight, I could not get the leg rest to go down and was pushing the leg buttons up and down like a kid playing with electric car windows for the first time, until the flight attendant showed me how.  
So, yes, I have fit it great with the first class lifestyle showing little to no sign to my amazement with all the pampering.  
My flight had to go to Johannesburg, but after hearing nothing but horrible stuff about Johannesburg, I kind of begged American Airlines to make a special modification to my trip route and include a continuation on to Cape Town.  They are so great and worked with me to make this happen.  After the 14 hour flight to Joberg, I figured that I would look for hotels in Cape Town, but the baggage claim and customs took longer than expected and my 3 hour layover got reduced pretty quickly.  When I got to the British Airways VIP lounge, the internet was not working in the airport and I was forced to board the plane without any plan of what I would do for transportation or where I would sleep.  I was only concerned because I was tired. I watched movies on the plane, read books, wrote journals, but could not sleep.  I was starting to feel real jet lagged wanted to sleep, but the 8 hour time zone difference told me it was only 7PM.  
I arrived to Cape Town at 9PM.  The airport was basically one main room with several windows of the different vendors.  All people waiting on arriving passengers could witness every detail of arriving passengers. I tried not to do anything that made me look like a tourist and marched through the middle of everyone like I was coming back to a place that I had been many times before.  Again the internet was out of service for what-ever reason.  The visitor center had already closed down and there was one rental car place open.  Although I was a little concerned, I think it was more because I was tired and knew that I was not thinking too clearly. I rented a car with Thrifty.  It was easy and not very expensive.  I tried contacting a Westin hotel that I had free points, but they told me to just come by, there were rooms available.  I got directions to the hotel and figured it should not be too bad to find.  
The rental car company gave me directions on where to go for the car.  I had to walk out the airport and around the corner follow the road past the other rental companies.  To my surprise, I passed Avis, Hertz and other rental companies with big offices and a full staff of people helping others.  Was I being too paranoid?  I looked for Thrifty and noticed it a long ways in the distance-maybe 100 to 200 yards down a dark road with no lights.  Great, this is the exact situation that I was supposed to avoid.  I was pushing a large backpack on a cart by myself on a dark road at night.  I try not to freak out or show that I am craping my pants, but it probably shows by the fact that I am walking about 50 mph with eagle focus on the Thrifty rental sign ahead.  A couple cars pass, but I have no one do anything that should alarm.  There are security guards walking about randomly. Although it is good to see them, they often wear black clothing and I thought the were coming to mug me before realizing that they were actual guards. I arrive to Thrifty and go into the small shed-like building.  They have my car ready and I sign the necessary contract.  I quickly put my luggage into the car trunk and lock.  Although I was a bit scared, each person I meet is the nicest person that I have ever met in any country that I have traveled to.  My paranoia shows and I feel bad acting so paranoid when the people that I meet are so friendly.  I get in the car and realize, not only am I driving a car with steering on the right side of the car, but I guess I am driving stick shift also---agghhh.  Shifting with the left hand will be interesting in my exhaustion.  
Driving directions are easy and roads are pretty well marked.  I make it to the hotel on highways the entire way.  My large hotel towers over the Interstate and is easy to spot. I use my points to check in and can barely talk I am so tired.  The hotel is again beautiful and free for me with points.  I throw my luggage on the floor and fall asleep quickly.