Really Excellent work Really enjoyed all the pics and the description of Botswanna. I always had the impression Botwanna was just another impoverished nation. Clearly this is not true. I have heard thought that the mine workers work extremely hard and don't get much....they are paid on what they find and if they don't fine much, not much pay. You might want to look into the economics of the mine workers.
John
Eric, so happy to be on the receiving end of your travel blogs, once again. You write so well and I love being able to share your experiences with you. At the rate you are going, there will be few places on this planet that you have not visited by the time you reach my age. Yours is a life well lived! Can't wait for the next installment.
Fascinating Hi Eric, this is a fascinating blog and I hope you keep it up. I am possibly going to visit Liberia in the fall and someday also Ethiopia for some charities with which I'm involved. I'd also love to hear more about your thesis! Sounds extremely interesting. Aloha, Amy
I have read all you wrote. Sometimes à dictionary must help me.
I'm so glad that I can follow you on your journey in Africa.
"Kramar" från Farmor Majstina
Great Adventure For Sure Eric - the pictures of the roads in Iceland could easily be US Route 40 in Colorado (right now). We have had 25 feet (not inches) of snow. You remember my Kubota tractor and plow - well, I have run out of space to push snow and now the UPS truck can barely get up our driveway without hitting snow on the sides.
Loved your descriptions - we were aware of the Ethiopian Airline debacle but of course, had no idea how it might affect others. I once had a trip interupted, landed in Kansas City to pick up passengers displaced by an equipment problem, had an empty seat next to me that was soon filled by a large lady - learned her name was Nine. I was a "newbe" in a staff position and had a boss (3 levels above me) who was almost aristocratic - never took his suit coat off, always freshly starched shirts embroidered with his initials - we called him Sir when he spoke. Turned out Nine was his sister and he had 10 brothers and sisters. Parents did not have a name ready so the nuse wrote Nine on the birth certificate and it stuck. Wish you well in your studies. We head back to Kauai for 11 weeks in 20 days (who is counting). We miss seeing you and Adina but are happy to hear you are doing well. We love your accounts of your travels. I think your research will be fascinating but you sure will get a view of poverty. Your description of the corrugated steel buildings reminded me of a district in central San Juan PR. Towering hotels with pools, beach front locations were but 1,000 feet from abject poverty - no running water, no electricity, and thousands of residents. They would have also loved the gift of a T-shirt.
Our builder was born and raised in Johannesburg. His Dad was a bank President. They retired in Denver. They lived in a gated and 24x7 guarded community with high walls surrounding the homes. Hard to relate to.
Best to you Eric - enjoy your research and we look forward to receiving updates - even if we are on the beach at Hanalei.
John
Fabulous! Hi Eric - It's been a long time and I'm sorry I missed you both on your last trip here. It was a very busy time for me personally and I apologize. You sound amazing and I'm quite envious of your trip to Africa :-) Enjoy it, but keep your shirt on your back. I look forward to catching up with you some time in the future. Good luck on your thesis!
Wow! You live a rich and beautiful life Eric. Makes me want to be 30 again. Enjoy your travels as always and we here on Kauai look forward to seeing you two again soon.
Aloha - Mary
Wonderful adventure Loved sharing your experiences. You write so well. Keep sending updates now and then - I'd love to hear about school. What are you studying? Hard to imagine you all settled in in Sweden. How is your Swedish...I imagine it isn't the easiest language to master.
I'll keep you posted on PLP.
Mahalo Thanks for sharing your wonderful adventure with all of us. Was right there with you. Very well done with your descriptive text, comments and photos. Looking forward to more posts in the future Big E and A!
Glad you made it to Sweden OK You must being going thru a lot of adjustment to school and living in Sweden but it sounds like it is going well. Adina - were you able to get into the OT or PT school? We sure hope so. You will be great at it. You have the kind of personality that is needed to work with folks in rehabilitation.
Our humingbirds are still here but there days are numbered. We seem to have fewer of them every day. For excitement, we have a black bear that comes up on the back deck and tries to drink the sugar water. WE guess he or she is a yearling and is about 300 lbs. We try to remember to take the feeders in but when we don't, we suffer his wrath - he has already destroyed 3 feeders and the hanging posts too - he rips the welds right off the steel and separates the hook from its mounting bracket. When I confront him, he or she huffs and puffs and eventually goes down the steps and over the neighbors house in search of sunflower seeds.
We are still enjoying "summer" with nights in the 40s and days in the 70s but we know our days are numbered. I have enough firewood to get us through 3 winters. We have succeeded in selling both condos in Colorado so the next step is to make an offer on the place in Princeville. We could be Kauai owners 2-3 weeks from now.
Best Wishes,
John and Deb
Hi John! Congrats regarding the condos! Kauai and the Rockies is the way to live if you ask me!
Adina got into the same school as me and into the OT program - her first choice!
See you in Princeville!
Keep them coming It was great seeing you guys (and of course actually seeing Adina wasn't imaginary). Enjoy Sweden and keep the updates coming over the next few years! Hope to see you this Spring.
Nice Job Eric Eric - you do such a beautiful job writing up our joint adventures. We will make sure Madi gets to read this too. thanks so much for your kinds words. It was truly a joy for us to host your visit.
Regards
John and Deb
Great photos! Love your blog and the photos are wonderful! My daughter Laura hiked the North Rim for five days in May. Like you, she said it has to be seen to be believed. However she was there with gale force winds and snow, so it was challenging, to say the least, but she loved it.
I met your uncle Allan Thomas last week. He said you are in New Jersey now, preparing to leave for Sweden I would guess. What a great adventure you have been on and are embarking on. Hope you will keep blogging.
Commentary Eric - your commentary is outstanding - really makes it fun to read. Our offer went in on the Nihilani condo yesterday. they have 48 hours to respond and it appears they are using every hour available to them. We have heard nothing back.
Nice! Thanks for sharing your Yosemite adventure and the great photos. I can just feel that freezing cold river and lake water with the 40 degree air! Reminds me of the times I had there
Your blog rocks! Eric, I love reading about your adventures. It's the best travelogue ever - I almost feel as though I were there. You make me want to explore my Swedish roots. My great-grandparents were Swedish - his name was Johan Soderstrom.
Keep sending updates - so much fun.
Farmor Majstina
non-member comment
My dear Eric! Thanks for interesting reading and beautiful pictures! Puss och kram från Farmor Majstina