Blogs from Ville de Kigali, Rwanda, Africa - page 4

Rwanda is the most beautiful country I have ever visited. I wish I could upload a picture for you. All I saw out the airplane window was lush green rolling hills with red dirt roads winding around the many green hills. We stepped off the plane into a postcard, and the smell of fresh cut grass filled my nose. It was so peacefully quiet and calm. The county is SO clean. No trash laying around anywhere. The people are gentle, and beautiful. It is extremely overwhelming to think the genocide of 1994 took place here. I am in awe of this country and the beauty that has come from the ashes. I was told Rwanda looks just like Uganda, except for the culture of course. I can now fully understand what Katie Davis is talking about ... read more

Kigali, like the whole of Rwanda has been known as a dangerous place and not many tourists have made to this small county in East Africa. In fact the recent and tragic history has been washed out and everyone is struggling to forget the consequences of the 94 genocide. Unfortunately this incident has left deep wounds and anxiety not just in Rwandans but in the rest of the world as well. When you are in the place where it all happened just few years ago, you are facing this history in absolute different way and you’ll be touched deeply. Kigali streets are overcrowded and people passing by you, and then you realize that all the adults would have witnessed the genocide and everyone has been scared more or less by this horrible tragedy. You never know, ... read more

Eg spasserte over den trafikkerte vegen, myste litt mot sola og rusla vidare på fortauet. Ein mann kom op til meg haldt meg roleg rundt handleddet, og peikte på skoen. Eg kjende så ei hand på brystlomma mi, og instinktivt slo eg den hardt vekk. Eg sett auga i dei begge, dei så olmt på meg og trakk seg unna. Ikkje brått, ikkje som om dei flykta, men sakte medand dei såg på meg. Eg kokte. Eg raste. Eg freste. Eg prøvde å ta dei av dage med blikket mitt. Rundt gjekk folk forbi som vanleg. Dei to mennen forsvann utanfor synsrekkjevidda mi. Eg såg føre meg fleire scenarier, ein der eg kaldkvelde mannen, ein annan der eg spende han ned og ein tredje der eg vrei armen hans og haldt han i ro. Men eg ... read more

My eyes filled with tears fit for overflowing as I began to process the shocking information at the Kigali Memorial Centre. The genocide exhibition leaves one consumed with an overwhelming sense of anger, frustration and outrage, as visitors slowly come to grips with the tragedy of the Rwandan genocide. To be honest it's almost unbearable having to deal with such an unflinchingly honest and graphic portrayal of the lead up to; horrifying reality of; and devastating aftermath of the events in Rwanda in 1994. This tiny country shocked the world during an horrific three months of madness that cost up to a million lives. The journal continues in Rwanda, dear reader, where visitors to the Memorial Centre reflect on the pervasive inhumanity that resides within the darkest recesses of the human mind. Mankind must continue the ... read more

Kigali is the capital of Rwanda and has about 1million inhabitants. It is very built up compared to the densely populated farmland elsewhere in the country. There are many multi storey hotels and large 24hr shopping centres. The internet connections are fast but there is only one international visa ATM which doesn't even work with all visa cards. We stay in the Okapi Hotel, but as usual get one of the worst rooms. This time we struggle for running water! Our first mission in Kigali is getting a Congolese visa, the situation has recently changed and you can no longer get a visa at the border for $35, instead we have to pay $20 to fill out the form, $120 for the visa and $25 for the express next day service!! It also requires many photocopies; ... read more