We’ve made it to our first extended layover – Kisumu, Kenya. Last I wrote, we were in Amsterdam – that seems long ago. We left our home in Beaverton about 2 pm on Monday, Oct 27, made it to our lodging in Kisumu about 9am Thursday Oct 30, local time. You can figure out the elapsed time.
We decided to take the train from Nairobi to Kisumu. That left us about 9 hours to wander after making through immigration. After enduring the smog filled jammed streets of Nairobi to get to the train station for our tickets, we headed to the Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Center. See some pictures in our travel album; the link should be to the right. The little baby elephants were great to see and pet, mud and all. We were fortunate to be able to do this as the Orphanage is only open one hour per day to visitors. After that is was off to the Giraffe Center to feed and pet the giraffes. Morgan and Nick even got a little friendly with them, kissing them and feed them with the food held in their lips. Yuck, yes, but how many people can say they’ve kissed a giraffe.
The train was great, and the Obama buttons we handed out earned us a couple of perks. One of the best decisions so far of the trip was getting 2 four berth compartment instead of one. It would have been quite cramped with 4 of use and 12+ pieces of luggage in one. The 220 mile trip took about 14 hours by train do to the 20 or so stops and a top speed of maybe 25 miles an hour. But the accommodations in the train were great, and to be able to finally sleep in the prone position after 2 straight nights on planes was blissful indeed.
The sun is definitely a danger to us here. Already both Joyce and Morgan have gotten mild burns. I guess us Oregonians just don’t how to handle real sun.
Pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/MaiersInAfrica
Jambo,
Paul
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1 comment:
Dear Maier family,
Welcome to Kisumu. I arrived here last year when they were giving away free tv's. Anyway if you would like to trade stories come to Paradise Cyber Cafe in Kibuye market. I am married to a Luo lady Everline and we toil away at 50ksh an hour typing and helping people get on the internet. I am originally from Upstate New York specifically Ithaca NY. I have been a computer consultant for the last 30 years. Finally is time to do my thing. This is paradise as far as I am concerned. When back in the states in June it was over 100 degrees here the most it ever gets is 90 degrees. And it rains almost every day in the afternoon or late evening. Anyway welcome and visit me here you wil always be welcome. Dana
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