Just arrived - remarkably smooth

The KLM flight was terrible. The food was terrible - made worse by the fact "the chicken option has run out", the plane old and tatty, but most depressing was the 55 year old Dutch expat I found myself sat next to from Amsterdam to Lagos leg of the flight. He got progressively drunk through the trip, downing vodka and at a unhealthy rate for 30,000 feet, and proceeded to bore me with his adulterous love life. I won't bore you - suffice to sat he was the worst kind of expat.

Upon safely landing at Lagos the Nigerian passengers erupted into a spontaneous applause. This shared experience shortly gave way to a rabid individualism as everyone hustled to get their bags and get off the plane as quickly as possible - for some this descended into an argument.

Having arrived at 6.30pm local time (GMT +1), it was hot but not stifling. The immigration took a while and, whilst only marginally chaotic (queues are not a Nigerian forte), it was decidedly friendly - a pleasant surprise considering the Nigerian Embassy in London.

Getting the bag was not a problem, except for the fact that my trolley bag looked like everyone else's and I was almost disappointed not to find the chaos promised by all who've been before. I left the airport and did see the famous "wall".

Upon getting your bag you go straight into the outside world - hello Lagos! To your left is a 6 foot wall with a sea of expectant faces calling and hustling for your business - I have no idea why they are behind this wall, because straight in front on me was my friend's (Mo's) cousin (Sola) to pick me up. Easy - really easy. It was all so quick I had no time to judge the similarity with Schiphol airport or whether there is good cheese on sale!

We drove (or more precisely Sola's driver drove) to the place Mo has arrange for me to stay - her sister's place in Lekki Island - the "highbrow" part of town as Sola told me. About an hour after leaving the airport and seeing more battered hazardous vehicles you'll see in a lifetime, we arrived at the house. We were, however, blocked by a mechanical monstrosity (some kind of bespoke road builder) and had to walk the last 100 yards - strange, but I'm sure there's more to come of that.

Mo's sister's place is fabulous - nothing less than a mansion.

So, I have arrived. Their cook has made me a snack and, with easy internet access here, I thought I'd let everyone know I'm safe - in fact not only am I safe I'm in luxury!