Off to Z-Land

Africa rookies Katie and Bill blogging for the first time.  We are at breakfast now, soon to leave for the flight to Zanzibar.  Leaving many of the Merry Men and Women today who have been here for 5 weeks and are headed for home.

Just about all the superlatives about Africa have been used up.  Such extremes . . . the beauty of the Serengeti and Tarangire, the staggering poverty and squalor of much of Arusha.  The Maasai outside the city living in the mud bomas with the thorn corrals that they have lived in for thousands of years.  Once into the country, much of Africa is a changeless land 

The Milky Way still can be seen here in a vivid night sky.  And the birds and bird songs -- WOW!

This trip has to rank up there with the best of our lives...meeting new friends, laughing, drinking wine and bumping along dirt roads which seem to go on forever, until we stop to see some spectacular sight (animal, vegetable or mineral!)  Home Sunday

Words cannot express the incredible vastness and grandeur of the Tanzania wilderness and the elegance and beauty of the Massai people.  In spite of the base poverty of so many, so many that we have seen and spent time with are industrious, so welcoming and rich in their relationships.

The group with which we are traveling is wonderful. Great and generous people and so talented. We've really enjoyed one another. It helps that most of us are a bit off plumb. . .!

About half of our group fly back to Seattle today while the rest of us are off to the island of 

Zanzibar. Hi to our grandkids in Bothell, Bellevue and Portland!