What must it be like to live as a single woman in France? I wonder if she’s typical, the woman who lives here and rents her apartment (partly) to a student. (I have not met her yet,just staying in her private home). Money enough to help pay expenses she is also a school teacher. Getting around town by bus or metro. Walking through the community for fresh produce, banking and other necessities. She places artificial flowers in the bathroom and kitchen, even on the edge of the tub. Short on cupboard space, wine glasses and plates on wooden shelves, a gas stove, a small fridge. Not unlike my own kitchen in some ways. Things packed in little nooks and crannies and in plain view.
The walk in to old town “vieux Lyon” begins along the one of two rivers. Beautiful. Less busy and less intense energy than Paris. Charming is a word that arises. Colourful, old arch stone walkways, big wooden doors with knockers and knobs. Italian style galleries and courtyards. Long high narrow staircases inside buildings and outside, between old structures …. up to the higher level a basilica or cathedral overlooks the land. Snapping pictures is a delight.
Place Bellecoeur. A large open town square. It looks like it could be used for concerts and events. Shops of silk, wines and art works. Cafes and restaurants. Churches. Cobblestone streets. Mosaics. Murals painted (fresco) on buildings. Ruins of old amphitheatre. I am enjoying meeting this city in France. It’s history, as old as Paris. Its life has been as siblings grow, different than Paris and on its own journey, with its unique history and purpose. The seeds planted 2000 years ago have grown their own flowers, wisteria, pale purple blossoms in trees, large cathedrals and basilica, huge town center, shops displaying silks, flowers, fruits and veggies, sweets and savory delights of a regional fare. Italian flavour of influence, no doubt, but uniquely France. More to explore. More to come. Time to rest a bit and enjoy the wonderful salad, clear water, fresh veggies, local cheeses. We may cook our own dinner this evening. Relaxing and staying present.
My phone is still in greyscale mode. Year 5 without colour. It can be hard to see what I am taking pictures of using cell phone camera however when I get to wifi I use my iPad for narrowing down the ones to keep. Posting a few on Facebook and a few here on the blog.
I am listening to podcasts that have been trying to get my attention. Pema Chodron was live a few days ago and I just received the recording for my listening pleasure ( I have signed up for a Year with Pema and enjoy the weekly reminders to stay with the practice).
Noticing and reminders this trip is not as much about doing as being. I love the noticing, the gratitude, the foreign exotic nature of this travel destination and I love that I am comfortable being present to what arises.
thanks for reading and following along …. More to come.
Almost at the end of the train.. and my energy. Lol. 16 km walked so far today. Day 3 on the Paris schedule. 1926 pm we depart. On exactly the moment, the train pulls away and backward we go. Wheeeeeeee. LOVE THAT FOR US!!! (As Rachel says but I love to say …)
Rachel has organized and planned our trip so far and back to Lyon. She is beside me …. Click. Click, clicking her keyboard. She has homework and studying to do. She has one week left of her Masters program at the school in Lyon – with dates corresponding to my trip here. I will be quiet and rest, enjoy Lyon. She will stress and worry a bit about her last week and packing up, moving to SouthAmerica for a while. Me …. Well, I am on vacation. Albeit a short one, just to visit Paris and Lyon and enjoy this time in Europe.
Sometimes I wonder why I travel like this although I don’t think I regret it, I just have a wee bit of stress.
Today, up and just barely awake before Christopher arrived, with his large black poodle type beautiful dog …. I quickly threw my belongings in backpack and out the door for an urban adventure. Off we went. We walked, talked and enjoyed each other’s company in deep conversation for two and half hours. Over cobblestones and toward the Cathedral Notre Dame. We walked down beautiful old streets, through passageways, following his phone and me in complete trust in my swim friend. I have no sense of direction but the sun shone, the sky blue, my heart happy in Paris, and deep in conversation about my years and career, my beliefs, his situation at work and as a young parent …. All relevant and satisfying. He works starting around 12 noon, so I was back to meet Rachel who was in virtual class till then at the hotel.
The weather turned a few times today … wind, cold, sun, rain drops, grey, torrential downpour ….all afternoon. We popped in and out of cute locally owned stores, fromageries, paper and pen shops, groceterias, the LEGO shop in a huge outdoor mall, Five Guys for fries and watching the wind and rain pour in buckets and fill the rain gutters between the cobblestones. Umbrellas turned inside out in seconds, no matter how beautiful or well made. I saw one with Mona Lisa’s face, bright rainbow ones, dark black large plain and see through plastic. None could withstand the brief powerful storm as we sat comfortably munching on French fries and marvelling at our good timing. Tourists in running shoes running, locals in beautiful stylish boots and open designer trench coats on a casual stroll …. We watched it all. Couldn’t have planned it better.
Then we walked back to the hotel to get our suitcases stopping briefly on the way for yet more cheese on sale and Italian gelato. Gathering our bags, new purchases and using hotel facilities we bid adieu to the front desk staff guy and back out to the spring afternoon streets of Paris.
We took two metro trains to the Gare de Lyon to catch TGV fast train with OUIGo…. Typically a five hour rail trip, we will get there in two. No stops, here we go. As the sun starts to set we see green fields, new bright yellow farm grassy areas and some stone buildings. The clouds of color and then darkness …. I think I might have dozed off through the beautiful-est part. I wake to a small bottle of rose wine, (we each have one) fabulous white local cheeses and some tasty garlic olives we had purchased today. Oh my goodness and fresh red perfect strawberries. 12 minutes left till we arrive. The picnic dinner is over. I love to travel the trains in Europe to listen to the various languages being spoken and seeing the vast countryside and wide open sky. Marvellous
I had a gluten event last evening so interrupted night till 2 am. Then fell asleep finally and slept in till after 9 local time. Very comfortable and feeling overall better today. Ready for the day. We both really enjoyed the sleep in … my travel buddy friend Rachel says .”LOVE THIS FOR US”. Agreed.
Off to meet Christopher at market. He’s not there. (Christopher is a guy I know from cold water swimming in Victoria over the last year. ). He and his family have relocated to live in Paris.
Off to find gf bakery. Breakfast cookie and apple blueberry crisp. Oh my. For later, a brownie on a cookie crust and praline soft mushy thing, and a huge cookie. So many good gf things to try and no gluten in the place :).
Back to the market and connect with Christopher and his son, Xavier. Wonderful two cheeked kiss greeting, we exchange hugs. They have been happily living here this past 6 weeks and will stay – they just signed 3 year lease. Xavier tries to play with some local kids on the playground but they reject him …. His dad tries to help out, asking what happened … with his young hand flung in the air he states … “They are French”. Enough said. We part. I will see Christopher in the morning for another walk about.
Today I want to walk the river bank. Off we go. Listening and noticing the sounds of Paris. The sights. The world so foreign from my own. Intriguing and interesting… we walk on.
We listen to Sunday morning Church bells of the basilica that we visited yesterday…. I stop. Breathe. Stop. Notice birdsong. Pigeons, other song birds in the trees. Tour guides speaking French. Fast. Fluent. All can be heard on the corner of the street. Love this.
We see an intriguing entryway, mosaic tile floor, chandelier lights … many shops inside. They are not open, it is Sunday. Gallerie Vivienne. Libraries shop (book store), Very high end Bridal and toy shops. Wine store. Outside on the steet again, We spy a bunch of bright orange statues … two basketball stars are bigger than life … I took pics to send to my grandsons. We walk through the gardens by the Louvre. Statues, flowers, people. We stop for a rest and some water.
Then to the Jardins Palais Royal. Breathtaking. Rows of trees Children with moms. Walking, playing. No cars. Sculpture. Pigeons. We sit and enjoy our breakfast goodies plus lunch foods we found.
We find a bench in the shade. 3 kinds of French cheese. From a Fromagerie. Hard Aged orange Mimolette. Soft white Brie. Mixed goat and sheep medium white firm. Wine rose from a wine shop. Cheap. Pink. Screw top. Roasted potatoes, skins on in olive oil and spices. Warm. With wine, water and a rest. We see a marriage proposal, she says yes and cries to his kneeling on one knee and presenting her the ring.
Then we walk on. It’s 130 pm, Off we walk to the river. On the Eiffel Tower side of the river we stroll … Bridges and walkways lead to the Eiffel Tower. So much people watching and enjoying families and couples everywhere.
The river is the same, beautiful and hardy, lots of boats of tourists going by. We walk in the groves of trees when we can to stay out of hot sun. People walking by. Many seated on the banks, just watching or having a rest.
We stop to pay our respects on Pont Alma where the memorial to Diana is …
Parc Monceau. We stop to rest on a bench and watch the local families wander through the beautiful park. Left over gf treats …. Almond creamy with praline tart base. And Chocolate peanut brownie with cookie base. We also have some leftover aged orange cheese. Lovely snack, sparkling water. We are full again of the sweet and savory Paris foods. Supper will be veggies and fruit. Maybe salad.
Walking through a few parks and Galleries Lafayette … up and up in the escalator, looking at the glass ceiling and fancy railings, luxury name brand items at ridiculous prices. People excited about their purchases.
Dinner in our room. We picked up groceries on the walk. A big head of fancy lettuce. Goat feta and a fresh large yellow lemon to squeeze, jar of olives ( we did not find a place to get fresh local olives today … but we looked), small box of cherry tomatoes, …. Made lettuce role ups! leftover rose wine from lunch bottle we bought, Crème brûlée for dessert. It is all gone.
Grateful: 19 km walk about in Paris after a luxurious sleep in. Wow …. Amazing. The rivers, the parks, the gluten free bakery and wonderful foods, cheap rose wine from the region, sunshine, the river, tree lined streets and benches to rest from the sun. It’s almost 930 local time, pm. Pleasantly tired and physically weary, plenty full of rich food and salad….. bed time here in Paris
On the long flight from Vancouver to Amsterdam I reread the book I purchased years ago for the month long stay at Roujan, a villa in the south of France. Title of the book: 100 Places in France Every Woman Should Go. Lots of great ideas for Paris including museums, culinary experiences, shopping / market advice and green spaces, as well some interesting tidbits about Lyon. I made some lists. I don’t really have lots of time or transport to get around to a lot of places, but I enjoyed the book and ideas it gave me. I opened my focus and will be ready for whatever presents itself on this trip. Museums, parks, shopping, culinary areas. The bridges and the river call to me.
I waited at the airport Charles de Gaulle. Rachel arrived by train (we easily meetup) and we walked to Hotel Marena within one and half kms from the train station downtown. Cute place, good price, very clean, nice bathroom with tall shower. I would be happy to stay here again. Beds very separate (almost two separate rooms), a desk with chair, bit of a closet, two windows with balconies to the street. Quaint, lovely.
Upon arrival the weather is warm, almost hot, sunny, blue skies and no breeze. Lots of tourists in town, a sunny Saturday in spring.
We head out for a walk to Sacre coeur basilica. Up and up we follow cobblestones and then staircases. Up and up it seems to go on and on. I can see the top, the beautiful structure where we will have gorgeous panoramic view of the city. Maybe as the sun starts to set.
We walk around the perimeter and take lots of pictures, all of Paris in the sights. I don’t think I have been here before, that I recall. Such a treasure. We walk inside the huge impressive structure …. Very peaceful and full of candles and people sitting in quiet meditation. The energy is lovely and kind. Stained glass windows and sacred columns, huge high ceilings, a pipe organ, wooden pews.
Outside for more views and photos. The sky gets darker and clouds reflect the pink of Paris. The Eiffel Tower, green trees and late spring blossoms, big lazy black cat, roof tops with reddish clay chimneys as far as you can see.
Hunger starts to overtake us. We start with artisanal ice cream and then find authentic dosa from south Kerala region, we order takeout. Back to our lovely home in the city for the night, satisfied and satiated with sights, sounds and sensations of this beautiful place. Full of gratitude for safe travels and easy moments.
I have arrived at the Vancouver airport. On route to the beautiful Paris, France in the springtime. It has been a year since I left Europe (from a short fun Oceania cruise and week at lemon farm on Amalfi coast, few days walking in Greece and Rome) and since September 2023 since I have arrived back in Canada (from a month in Africa on safari – South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda). Since February 2024 since I arrived back in Victoria from a flight to Nova Scotia in the winter for visit to family.
It is a few hours pre flight, they tell travellers to arrive no less than 3 hours before flight time, to get through security and pick up boarding passes etc. This time I am checking no bags. Walking on the flight with all my travel gear with me, on my back. I have a beautiful Coach leather handbag over my shoulder, big enough to hold this lap top and strap around my shoulder. I have an Osprey back pack – no bigger than students carry to go to school each day. Wow, it has been a while and I guess I have learned a few things about packing light! A lot of practice and intention have brought me this far ….
Remember when I was one of those people who were pulled out of the line with baggage that was ‘overweight’ and I had to run things back to the car that would not make the flight with me. Also back then I had a rollie suitcase just for my shoes and footwear! I have been seriously trying to downsize the amount I carry on vacation. Intention, practice, repeat. Here I am.
Wearing a few extra layers, jacket, rain coat, sweater, t shirt – layer, layer and layer. My jewelry on my wrists, around my neck and in my ears … I did not set off the metal detector going through security, even that experience has improved over time.
Women cleaning staff wandering around the seating area not far from the Starbucks close to my departure gate, D something or other. About 1 out of every ten people wearing masks, left over from when the pandemic times required us all to stay home or wear masks, gloves and take safety precautions.
I am in the international departures area, my next stop will be Amsterdam and then Charles de Gaulle in Paris. Lucky me, I often can fall sound asleep on airplanes … not always but often. Maybe today will be the day. Yesterday I slept on Harbour Air sea plane from Victoria harbour to Vancouver harbour – ha ha – in little squishy seats. Today an exit row awaits me, leg room and maybe some comfort as I lean back and relax. Phone on airplane mode until the 23 April 2024 and my own thoughts to keep me company.
Stay tuned for more travel stories ……. “follow” along (I think there is a button where you can enter your email address and receive my blog posts directly into your email inbox – if you want).
Since March 2020, it has been in the planning to once again try travel, when safe to do so. Tours booked and cancelled, postponed and replanned … zooms to talk about ideas and possible dates, some common ground for friends and travel club members alike to set intentions and try to venture out in the big travel world again.
Why do we have the urge to travel? What compels us to experience the big wide world and its creatures and people, cultures and food … and experience the washroom facilities! Why do we wish to meet others and travel together…. What about us wants to call the big global world ‘home’?
For me, often my bigger vision, is to contribute to women holding hands around the world, to support one another, to talk about the state of global affairs for women everywhere, to support women serving agencies so they can prosper and help women to find more empowerment. Walking each other home, even the unseen women … even those I know very well. How can I best lend my support every day in each experience to contribute to a peaceful and successful outcome for women?
Over the past 6 months I have been travelling again, as you can see from this blog. First Europe for a short trip to Rome, a 7 night Oceania cruise to Athens and few day stay in Greece and Italy, finishing up with a 7 night stay local living Sorrento on Amalfi Coast, GAdventures tour at the agritourismo. I like to refer to it as the lemon farm. The mom of this family is the chef at the agritourismo. Luigi, her son, and Valentina, the daughter work with tourists to ensure the stay is memorable for all the right reasons.
The tour started out with 16 of us guests (friends and women travel club gals) on the cruise ship, and then people went on their way to their various other travel destinations.
GAdventures is a great Canadian small tour company to travel with. We come together as guests, sometimes barely, or not at all, knowing other travellers … meeting up for adventure, sometimes uncomfortable pushes outside of our comfort zone. Sometimes an easy day of rest or sitting all day in a safari vehicle or bus.
Most recently I have done two tours in Africa. Both GAdventures. One as an agent, one as a guest. As an agent, I travelled solo and met up with a fabulous agent colleague who resides in Quebec. We have never met before but became fast close friends and roommates. I would travel with Manon anywhere anytime. A kindred and fun spirit. The tour: Kruger in Depth. We met in Johannesburg and from there travelled to Kruger National Park for several safari days and enjoyed many wildlife experiences up close and personal. Many photos taken and exciting safari moments, my first ever of this variety. Seeking and finding the big five and including countless other creatures like zebra, elephant, cheetah, giraffe, leopard, buffalo, hippo, rhinoceros, wild exotic birds, lion, vultures and more.
As a guest, I travelled with some friends and travel club members on a safari adventure that was a lot more physically challenging. The women from Victoria, BC Canada (5 of us in total) met in Tanzania for 4 nights pre-tour in Stone Town in Zanzibar to relax, recharge from various travel experiences and enjoy some beach time before we head out on land safari in Kenya and Uganda (16 days East Africa in Depth). I had received a recommendation from the previous GAdventures guide to contact a business woman named Eliza. Happy to do business with a woman in tourism. We walked around town, we ventured to Prison Island and saw the giant tortoises. I loved the blue safari, where we spent the day on a dhow (small sailing vessel-boat) and swam and snorkelled. And Eliza helped us get a transfer to the airport to fly to Nairobi on our last day. Giving business to a woman in this country in this way, a good thing.
The first 8 of the 16 day GAdventures tour was set in Kenya and we did safari at three different national parks. We had excellent guiding and drivers. One activity was at a women’s center given a chance to support women to make a sustainable living in tourism. I loved the quilting and fabric crafts we saw. I made a small purchase and loved walking around and touching the creations and finished products.
The second part of the 16 day tour was in Uganda, with many activities including trekking chimps and gorillas in National Parks. In Rwanda on the last day of the tour we had lunch in a woman’s personal home, having paid for the service and food through our GAdventures payment. Also we attended the genocide memorial museum in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. This was a powerful and unforgettable community activity. We also stopped at a women’s centre and had time to do some shopping and make purchases to take back home, supporting women craftspeople and skilled artisans to make a sustainable living with tourism.
Last day, last tour, last two of us women travelling together in Kigali, Rwanda to the airport to begin our trek home to Victoria Canada. Once again, walking each other home, making sure we arrive both safe and with some comfort at having a travel buddy to share time and stories with.
It is what I love about the Women’s Travel Club and the GAdventures style of travel. We share the experiences, we personally grow in ways not visible to the other, we support and try to help each other to not feel so alone in the world when on adventure.
In each and every journey this year, from my individual meditation experiences to the last flight home from Africa and the stories of genocide and discrimination …. We offer tolerance, patience, kindness and care as we indeed walk each other back home. Thanks for being here to witness my journey.
I will be back with more travel stories one day, for now, some rest and comfort back home as I ease back to routine. As I relax into the privilege that is my life. Time to process and to evaluate what next for me in my life. Time with family and friends, catching up with work …. And always walking forward as best I can.
For now,
As always,
Pamela signing off from travels ….. thanks for the support.
Last evening I struggled to post on blog or photos.
The days trek was epic in every way … pushing farther out of my comfort zone and with my travel buddies who did the same. Somehow bonded more by the extreme exertion and then the close encounter with this magnificent gorilla family. We had a big “base camp” of support, tracked, guides, porters and each other to cheer us and help us reach the goal and then an hour with the gorillas. Then the trek out again and back to the camp. Showered, exhausted, adrenaline returns to normal baseline. I went to the reception area to try to post pics and this blog.
And then my right ankle quit working. I remember twisting it yesterday on the hike to gorillas. This was a delayed reaction, painful and I had to hobble using walking sticks and help. The hotel brought me hot water in a thermos and a cloth to ease my suffering before bed. Also they had a lovely hot water bottle in the bed which I kept on my ankle all night. Although tender, I am able to walk this morning.
The last day in Uganda. The last day on tour.
On the road and packed by 645 this morning.
Driving through the beautiful terraced mountains on dirt roads for at least an hour. Snapping photos and waving to children. Then paved road, through small towns setting up for markets, people on bikes, motorcycles and by foot. Often carrying large items such as containers of water, loads of sticks and farm produce.
We lost an hour for time zone. It’s now 945 am. Driving now on our North American side of the road. Slower speed limit. Cameras control giving speeding ticket. Country is wealthy, people are poor. Election every 7 years.
Used to be three tribes then genocide – we will go to memorial today. Now no differentiation between tribes. Uganda not same problem because 56 tribes. Hard for one tribe to rise above others.
Tea plantation we drive through. Bycicles as taxis. And some carrying large metal milk containers balanced on back. No rumble strips on road, more cameras and high fines for speeding.
Gorillas can be found and visited in 3 countries Rwanda Uganda. Congo. Rwanda charges $1500, Uganda $700 and Congo $200.
The vegetation and agriculture changes as we drive. More trees. Groves of bamboo. It’s beautiful. Growing rice in fields.
1115 arrive Kigali city. Busses. Traffic. 3 languages. French. English. Rwanda. We are going to Genocide Memorial museum.
7 April l994 over million Tutsi murdered under horrific circumstances in 3 months, killed. Www.Kgm.rw Although graphic and detailed in horrific stories and details, this is such a moving memorial and incredibly well done. Tears of grief are flowing. I won’t ever forget.
We went for lunch at a local woman’s home in Kigali, Rwanda. Fabulous food and she made me separate pots of food to ensure no cross contamination. Thanks Paul for arranging this.
Then the Nyamirambo Women’s Center (celebrating 25 years of empowering women). Beautiful shop and we wanted to help by making purchases. Following this, we were dropped at our final destination on this tour, Kigali View Hotel. They were not ready for us but we made it work. We said goodbye to some travel mates who are going on to other destinations.
Later in the evening I had a cry again as a few of us talked about our experience at the memorial.
Today, packing up and heading to the airport for the long flights and onward to Canada!
Greeted in morning by mist covering trees outside our warm comfortable lodge dwelling
We gather our belongings for the day ahead, gorilla trek. I have never done anything like this before …. What does one take on such an adventure? Water, tuck in pant legs so ants do not crawl up your leg and bite …. Neutral colors, bug spray, a hat to keep bugs off head, pack sack, money for the guide, porter and trackers, lunch, good walking shoes or boots, long sleeve shirt. Oh, and we are requested to wear masks to protect the gorillas and us … when we meet them later today. Walking poles …
Drive in our vans …. up up on nearly completely washed out roads of red sand and mud. Past very small villages, children, adults, walking to work? Working in their yards … riding motorcycles to get to work. Up up and more up.
We get to the briefing / Gathering area. As we are Waiting, we are greeted by local indigenous folks, mostly women, who dance and sing to entertain us all. Enthusiastically they dance. We applaud. Apparently they do this each morning. Visiting People offer tips. Since this place was made a protected area, they have started this activity for the tourists every single day (for tips). Very uplifting and energy building !
How many are we? Chairs are full. Guides, trackers, porters are gathered around doing official tasks for their day with us. A few young gals. Maybe 5 rows of 15 chairs per row. 8 tours today ….
Now we wait for further instructions. The park is approximately 321 sq Kms. Open since 1993. Over 300 bird species. Chimpanzees and gorilla live here.
You can check out the App: “my gorilla family”. Is about Bwindi gorilla families that live here.
This is the Mountain gorilla Conservation area. World unesco site. 1683 mtn gorilla in total. Half live here in bwindi.
These gorillas share 98.4 % dna with humans…our cousins. We agree we will take and wear mask. Our gorilla family name is Tinda tine. This name Means fearless.
Back to the lodge, exhausted after about six hours of trekking and walking and climbing, and stretching, and falling, slipping, climbing more …. Using walking poles. I hired a Porter to carry my pack and more importantly to help me walk on the slippery mountain slopes. Lucky me, a woman walked up to me and offered to be hired by me to help her, a young mom, lovely, competent and strong. Our guide was the head guide, a complicated name … he said we could call him expert. He was the expert! There were three trackers that stay with gorilla family all day and help us when we have the sixty minute of time within the family.
The scenery here is so beautiful…. The pictures barely do it justice but it is amazing. More comments later….
Already, elephants and sunrise brighten my morning as I leave this place, Simba Safari Camp. Safari journeys of the last month are over…. Almost.
As we drive along on the roadway through Queen Elizabeth park, we spy a few waterbuck. Then LIONS!! Mom with 4 very small cubs. We stop. Taking pictures. Looking through binoculars. And see a second female lioness. They are on the move. 7 of them are counted. Closer to us. We move. They move. We sit. They sit. Buffalo walk through. They watch. Two babies, 1 month old run out of bush. There is a few older cubs, one with a limp. The little tiny ones frolicking in the grass. Very sweet moment captured together. Lions, some with collar so they can be tracked. Community may poison them (reasons of revenge for killing the animals on their farms) so numbers do not increase naturally. Lions migrate to Congo and back.
Another herd of elephants in the tall grass eating from acacia… with a small young one with them. We drive on.
Mongoose on side of the road, we slow down. More elephants walking on straight line. Toward the village … for their garden.
Stop at Kyambura for a view picture down of the valley and national park. Nyunga crater lake from eruption 1000 years ago.
Baboons alongside of road. People stopped to view chimpanzees. Tea plantations.
Lunch stop :).
Off road about 4 pm. Up. Up
Goats. Other domestic animals, the view, the sun, the trees, the reddish dirt road, beautiful greenery, local people, women carrying loads on their head dressed in color. Motorcycles, kids in school uniform, goats on leashes, cows, eating alongside the road. Chickens. Fences. Terraced mountainside. Sheep. Children. Trees, rocks that have slid down the mountainside. In spots there’s not much to drive on. We keep going, through villages, by fallen trees, clusters of goats, tea planted in terraces on the mountain. Pigs. Cows. Goats. Young children tending them.
Twice a week it rains hard here. Evidence in the deep ditches in the roads.
Sweet young smiley faces and waving hands of children as we drive by. The adults don’t seem to notice or care much.
There are people, mostly young women and school aged children that I see, breaking larger rocks into smaller 1 to 2 inch rock cubes and stacking them. Apparently a truck will come by to gather the smaller broken rocks. If their pile is selected, they will get paid. At some point they will receive some money for the work.
According to our guide, every day there are people coming here to see the gorillas. He adds that 95% of the people who come to Uganda do so to see the gorillas.
We arrive at Gorilla Valley Lodge is our next accommodation for two nights for the purpose of gorilla trekking. For some on our tour, the reason if this trip.
2 Male Elephants on shore. Yellow billed storks. 2 water buffalo laying in water.
Tide kingfisher birds.
African bush Elephant good swimmers. Can go 50kms. Travels horizontally to get to river, he is in front of steep slope. 3.5 to 4.5 meters high. Cools body with ears. Tusks large and grow up. Good sense of smell. Bigger than forest elephants.
Yellow weaver birds – colourful are male
Hippos. 5000 in QE park. Along boat ride will see a lot of them. Aquatic during day, land at night. In water 16 of 24 hours to stay cool. Can go under 3-5 minutes. No sweat glands. Bigger is male. A school of hippos, pod or herd or bloat of hippos. Eat only grass. Cow, bull and calf. Same called elephant and buffalo. Honking. Albino is pink color. Drink 25 litre water in day. Territorial in water. Solitary on land. Don’t interact with other school. One dominant male. If he loses, he will be separated If more than 100 in school, called district.
Elephant eat 18 hours a day. 3 course meals. 300 km of grass per day. Way more water in day.
Nile Crocodile up to 2 meters. Live 70-100 years. Eats stone to keep it on bottom. Can go 2 years with no food. Typically eat fish.
Nile Monitor Lizard on rock. Forked tongue. Live 30 years. Tail is 50 x length of body.
Hadada ibis bird in tree. African fish eagle in tree. Palm nut Vulture also in acacia tree.
Lion and hyenas becoming extinct. Being poisoned by communities
Big 5 are most challenging animals to track down by foot.
Rhino extinct in Uganda.
Small bervis monkey and baby in a tree
Fish do well here feeding on poop of hippopotamus
Purple heron.
Fabulous optional activity offered in this area. Seeing wildlife from the river channel. Amazing. Pics to follow
Pamela's travel Blog 