Off to Ireland this afternoon with Andrea Rose. She has grown into such a lovely young woman, but we haven't spent as much time together since she started college two ana half years ago. Soon shell be off on her internship or Peace Corps mission, so were considering this her graduation trip. Delta air to Atlanta connecting to Dublin. So far the flight is right. See you in Ireland!... read more

Nairobi is a bustling city with a lot to offer. Heightened security makes one feel ill at ease to go outside the hotel. Who would want to, the Serena had a lovely gift shop, beautiful.swimming pool area , a real tropical paradise. Both meals we had there were excellent. Some of our group were taken by Rover to shop, but I am glad we stayed to rest before the long journey. The airport trip was hectic, people walking up to your car at stoplights hawking everything from jumper cables to e apples, newspaper sellers to begging women. The airport itself was a similar process to home. KLM allows two checked bags, so I checked my Tauck ruffle as well as my bag, and all my gifts made it home safely, wrapped in clothing. Inside security there ... read more

It was a double wow day. We woke very early for a 520am departure for the hot air balloon flight. The roads in the Mara are gruelingly bumpy. Having had a sore tailbone since the second night at Ngorongoro, just as it was feeling better the roads got worse. Not that I am complaining, just an observation for those who think they would like to go to Kenya and Tanzania, but may have a weak or sore back. I'm glad I was pretty we'll trained before leaving home. I digress. The hot air balloons were on the ground, ready to be filled. We climbed in and sat with our backs toward the ground, feet up, holding on to a rope, pretty claustrophobic while the captains and crew tried to fill the balloons and take off. It ... read more

Slept in this morning, then off to Nanyuki Spinners and Weavers, where a short tour showed the whole process from raw wool to woven product. The women work very hard so it was a pleasure to buy from them. There is an elementary school as well as girls secondary school adjacent. On the way back to the hotel we visited a Benedictine monastery where they hold weekend retreats for young people. Brother Andrew showed us around. It was meager but felt very spiritual. He explained the work they do there, hosting groups of children and travelers from afar for African Bible study and personal reflection. After lunch some of the group went to visit a former actress, Donna Peabody, formerly married to William Hurt. Carol said she seemed lonely living here in Africa by herself. After ... read more

My fear of flying in small planes over, we connected in Nairobi private airport for the flight to Nanyuki. In a fertile farm belt, this was the area of the Mau Mau uprising, led by Kenyatta, then imprisoned, and like Mandela elected president when he got out of jail. He turned out to be hugely corrupt, funneling billions in foreign aid to his family and friends, while Kenyans starved. Nanyuki seems much richer than towns website have seen in Tanzania and Amboseli. Clean, paved streets, architecture instead of huts thrown together. Along the road are lovely estates left from British Colonialism. We passed many, many boarding schools, even a World Vision enclave. On arrival at Fairmont Mt. Kenya Safari Club, we were welcomed by some Masai, but a different tribe. We are staying right on the ... read more