The Not-so-Exciting Blackout

We arrived unceremoniously at Nakuru, bought some groceries and then took a windy road to the countryside where SOAR-Kenya (the school) is located. I use the term "road" rather loosely. It's more like a washed out path that unbelievably manages to accommodate motor vehicles. 

Anyway, this is the school and that's James standing in front. 

This is James's daughter, Mary who was a bit shy around the wazungu- the Swahili word for "white people".  If you want to read the fascinating context of that word, click here. 

And this is Elvis, Mary's older brother, who is not shy in the slightest. 

I would be remiss if I didn't show the garden and the drip irrigation, as Bruce is particularly fond of it. 

James lives with his children and his wife, Sharon, just up the road from the school. We stayed with them while we were in Nakuru. Here's a shot of everyone on the day we left:

When we first got there, however, we only spent one night. The next day we traveled to Eldoret to visit Monica's school. We took, what I am told, was the most dangerous road in Kenya. I believe this claim because at one point we saw three lorry accidents in a span of five minutes. 

There was an intense downpour when we arrived that evening. The electricity was out in the hotel, a problem we were assured would be fixed at any moment. That moment never came. Thus, this is the only picture I have from the Eldoret hotel: 

Just kidding. Actually I took this picture of the candle holders they gave us so we could see in the dark:

I've never had strawberry fruit wine, but it looks terrible. 

I'm not complaining however, because that hotel had porcelain toilets, albeit ones without seats. Even so, after using a squatty potty a toilet bowl was about the most welcome sight I could imagine. 

Bruce and I spent a long evening chatting with Monica and James at the hotel restaurant. James did some hilarious wazungu impressions. Monica told us all about her school. I ate a stringy unidentifiable piece of chicken. Finally, our candle burned out and we walked back through the rain to our cold, dark hotel rooms. It was undoubtedly one of my favorite nights in Kenya. 

And now back to our regularly scheduled trip recap

While nothing could outdo the Elephant Orphanage, the Mamba (read: Crocodile) Park certainly put up a valiant effort. The Crocodile Park includes turtles, ostriches, and you guessed it- rabbits. Oh, and also crocodiles. Seen here:

American Crocodile Hunter

I didn't want to post this picture because my face is still recovering from lack of sleep,
but I also wanted to provide photographic evidence that I held that little twerp. 

This is James, the school director at SOAR-Kenya triumphing over a moderate-severe crocodile phobia.

This is Carol, friend of James and our Nairobi tour guide. She clearly has no qualms about snuggling up with this guy.

After the Mamba Park, we went to visit Bruce's other favorite Nairobi tourist attraction. 

Have you seen Out of Africa? It stars Meryl Streep and Robert Redford and is based on the real-life story of Karen Blixen, a Danish coffee farmer turned author who lived in Kenya. If you haven’t seen it, don’t tell Bruce as he will take personal offense.  (Not that I’m speaking from experience.) I bought Out of Africa to read on the trip because I have a severe aversion to watching movies before I’ve read the book.* The story is beautifully written, but in such a poetic way that it lulls me to sleep almost instantly. At this rate I’ll finish it in 30 years or so, at which point I will watch the movie.

Anyway- we went to visit Karen Blixen’s home in Nairobi, which has now been turned into a museum. Photos are not permitted inside the house, but here’s the exterior.

 The next morning we would leave Nairobi and head to a place less touristy and with fewer toilets. But I'll get to that.  

*Helen, I promise to read The Help soon. Sorry I ruined your birthday.