Well, we are off again. I guess it is time to get back on the road. Plus, we are going on a special
adventure in two days. A very special adventure. We are going trekking to spend one hour with a family of mountain gorillas. Can get a WOO HOO?!??!!!! Between Brad and I, Liam caved and decided that a few days at the Virunga Lodge near the Parc National des Volcans in northern Rwanda would be a relaxing way to enjoy a cultural experience as part of his job!
We had breakfast with Brad and Angie, returned to their house because we forgot our coffee mugs and then began the journey out of Kampala. What a nightmare. At one point on a two-lane road, I think there were four lanes of cars and ten rows of people. It was so tight we accidently bumped into a bicycle and a boda boda. But, they think jumping in front of a moving car is a good idea. Navigating through cities without street signs is interesting. However, we made it out of town after fighting traffic and people for two hours.
On the road again, we stopped in Mpaimbare, Uganda. This is the location where the Buganda King drums are made. There were several stalls along the way and we acquired two drums to begin our collection. Shopping for drums is an interesting experience. There a ton of different types of leather used and they all sound so different. Imagine, two mzungus hanging out on the side of the road beating drums with absolutely no rhythm. I bet it was a sight to see. If only we weren’t both tone deaf and musically untalented. Maybe drum lessons for Christmas?
A short way down the road we crossed the equator again. This time, there was a fantastic tourist trap with two rings. They also do the water experiment to show you how water drains on either side of and on the equator. Being cheap, we didn’t pay the small fee for the water experiment because we are smarter than we look and already knew how it worked. We did, however, pull our typical slightly touristy-slighty tacky selves into the ring for a few pictures straddling the equator. Hey, it’s not everyday you can stand on the equator in “winter.”
Back on the road, and we started to see Ankole cattle everywhere. They are beautiful and my husband tolerated my requests for more pictures. I cannot believe how large their horns are. But, when a herd of them began walking towards the car, I started thinking their horns may be a little dangerous as I watched them nudge each other. And away we went.
Driving through western Uganda is a lot like driving through South Dakota. Lots of rolling hills and generally not a whole lot of anything in any direction. As we drove, we were starting to wonder if we were going to be able to cross the border because no one seemed to know when the border opened and closed.
Arrived at the border. Crossed without a lot of difficulty and started driving only to realize that in Rwanda you drive on the right side of the road. Welcome to the only Francophone East African country. Rwanda is beautiful. It’s the land of a thousand hills. And I have no doubt there might be a few more than a thousand hills. Tea and coffee were growing all around us in the valleys and up the hillsides. Little children ran along side our car waving and screaming mzungus.
A little after dark, we reached Kigali. The city was immaculate. There was no trash to be seen, houses were clean and well constructed, and everyone was well dressed and clean. Quite a difference from Tanzania.
We stayed at the newly renovated Hotel des Mille Collines AKA Hotel Rwanda. If you haven’t seen the movie, take a peak – it’s pretty intersting. The hotel was beautiful and the rooms were quite comfortable. We ate at the poolside bar and I enjoyed more wet food. Seriously, loving pepper gravy. This time it came with capers. I must say though, it was sobering to walk through the halls of hotel and think about all the people who were waiting to be saved from the massacre happening around them in Kigali. I can only imagine the fear that consumed them.
Headed off to bed so we could get up quasi-early and head to Virunga Lodge and the gorillas.
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