Today is a rainy day at the beach, which means there is not much to
do. However, any day at the beach could be described that way since
relaxing is what beach is all about.
We did get in a morning stroll past the peddlers, nearly to the end of
the beach where the camels were lolling and rolling about in the surf.
Yet another adventure awaited us there -- a shipwreck! No fooling!
A freighter ran onto the reef that surrounds this place and is stuck
there. We arrived on the scene just as the rescued crew was being
ferried to the shore. There were TV and print coverage. Who knows, we
might be on Kenyan TV tonight. One of our good friends from the beach
said the ship was overloaded, the captain lost control and they
slammed into the reef. There is virtually nothing that can be done to
rescue the ship -- at least that is what our friend said.
Never a dull moment in Mombasa. Another town excursion was offered
today, but I don't think there were any takers. Yesterday was quite
enough for most of us. Today's trip might have been interesting, but I
am not up for another mutatu adventure through crazy traffic.
I spent much of my day at the beauty salon here, getting a pedicure
and a manicure. Mike (aka Tui), who does my nails in Lenexa, gets both
services done in less than an hour. I was in this shop for nearly
three hours! However, like most of the merchants and business people
here, the women in the shop are desperate for clients.
The government has pretty much ruined the economy of this country. A
couple of the places we were to stay closed down due to lack of
reservations, which put us in something of a bind. Of course, it was
difficult to find replacements at the same price. The hotel we are
scheduled for on our return to Nairobi raised its rates by $50 since
we have been here. The budget is being CRUNCHED!
For us, however, it is just an inconvenience. For the people here, it
is survival. Rahma, the nail technician, is a single mother with a
severely slashed income. Not only that, prices have gone up for
subsistence foods. Several of us had our nails done just to help out
after one customer told us how grateful Rahma and her sister were that
she had a pedicure.
We are probably reaching the end of our relaxation mode. If it were
possible, I think some of us would be on a train to a plane soon. But
TIA and we have several more days to relax. I am glad that we have the
computer with us because that gives us some "work" time. Darrel has
already edited and rated all his pictures and put them in a slide show
which he updates regularly. And I have been keeping up the blog and
writing an article for a magazine. It still feels like nothing to do.
Some of our travelers are game players. Cribbage and Bananas have been
popular. Others are doing a dice game and cards. Most of us are avid
readers so there are books everywhere.
This group have been fun and amiable travelers, up for any adventure
and slow to complain. The most adventuresome among us are Lucas and
Justin, the two young men who are on the journey of a lifetime. Travel
time is nearing an end for Lucas, who will attend law school next
term. Justin will be at the Olympics in Bejing this summer. They have
shared some of their pre-Kenya traveling experiences with us. They are
brothers and they have been on the road for several months.
Their dad, Jim, has a story to tell also. In March he had brain
surgery. A lawyer, he was giving a speech in Washington, D.C., when he
suddenly lost cognition. Rushed to the hospital, he was diagnosed and
treated by one of the few experts in performing this kind of surgery.
And now, here he is, in Africa! On Father's Day Justin gave the nicest
and most moving toast to his dad, extending it to all the dads of the
group.
Their mom, JoEllen, reminds me of a friend back home (Hey, Kathleen,
in case you are following!) She worked in development at DeLaSalle in
Minneapolis. She is energetic, curious, and friendly, along with her
two sisters, Teddy and Kathy. They are the game players, and do they
ever have fun together. We have heard stories of their exploits. There
are three more sisters and a brother who are not among the travelers.
Kathy's husband Fred has this great booming voice and catching laugh.
Lonny, Teddy's husband has a story also. Right before this trip he
made a hole-in-one in a golf tournament and won a car and a new set of
golf clubs. It was his first hole-in-one ever! And he called it.
We have three scientists on board -- Don and Karen from Memphis and
Kathy from Cincinnati. They have provided information on flora and
fauna. On our beach walk this morning, Karen spotted some barnacles
which she carted back for Don to see. Don has some great pictures of
the lion crossing the river amid the crocodiles.
Kathy's husband, Jim, creates woodworking manuals, concentrating
especially on the photography aspect. His camera and his knowledge of
cameras is right up there with Darrel's which has been gleaned
primarily from our photographer friend Keith. Kathy and Jim, both
widowed, married in April, just in time to make the journey.
Lois, who is also from Minneapolis, is the birdwatcher among us. She
can spot them and name them, and we appreciate that.
The Bonderer brothers are Brother Raymond from Montana and his brother
Phil from KC. Br. Raymond is on the board of directors at O'Hara so he
makes a trip several times a year from the Black Feet school where he
works to KC. Recently diagnosed with Parkinson's, he is a real
trooper, not missing many of the events we have scheduled. He has been
taking TONS of photos, and he is a Mac guy!
Phil is shooting video as well as stills. He has well over 12 hours on
his HD video camera. We can't wait to relive the trip on video, but
Phil will have to market it in installments for us. Phil is also an
excellent shopper! On our walk this morning, one of our beach friends
asked, "Where's Phil?" He was very disappointed to find out that Phil
is under the weather today.
The Kansas City group has already scheduled a gathering for September
something when Br. Raymond is back in KC so we can all share the
outcomes of our photography.
The KC sisters are Pete and Liz. One of their claims to fame is that
they are sisters to Rusty, the man who keeps O'Hara running. (Tell
Rusty we all say "Hey!) Aside from that, they are both educators --
Pete teaches English and Liz works with special needs children. Liz's
famous quote for the trip, noted after a particularly tedious road
trip, was: "You mean there's an AIRPORT here?!!!" I don't normally use
multiple punctuation marks, but that's the way it was said.
For those of you who are reading this and don't know me, I am RETIRED
from my job as Communications Director at Archbishop O'Hara High
School. This is the retirement trip of my dreams so I am happy.
My husband, Darrel, is in the laser printer business and is our
computer and camera guru. He is traveling with more computer, phone
and camera equipment than you can imagine. As I said, however, it has
given us something to do on down time.
And then there is Br. Chuck, our fearless leader. We are dependent on
his Swahili to navigate through the throngs on the beach and in the
markets. He is a bargainer of the first class. At O'Hara last year
Chuck was teaching art and computers and redesigning the website. Also
a gourmet cook, he is in great demand for special dinners. Of course,
we would not be here without him.
I TOLD you I needed something to do. After this long entry, you
probably need a nap. As a matter of fact, I am thinking about a nap.
Kathy
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