Beautiful Weather and Zoom Calls

Despite it being the rainy season, we have nice days here and there between the rainstorms.  Today, the clouds cleared for a beautiful afternoon.  I walked down by the clinic and out in front of the Smelsers' house for the wide-open view out over the valley.  

After that, I had a zoom get-together with a group of friend from high school; we're scattered around now, but it was a fun way to catch up and spend some time together! We had to negotiate the time due to the time difference, but worked it out for noon their time (they're all in US Eastern time at the moment) and 7 pm my time, so that it wasn't too early or late for anyone.  One blessing of this time of quarantine is that we thought of doing this; I hope we can continue to do it periodically even once this is all over.  

Wandering Down to Shela Beach

My second day in Lamu was as bright, sunny and humid as the day before.  I set out mid-morning to wander down the waterfront towards Shela, the smaller town at the southern point of the island.  Everyone had said that it was an easy walk of two and a half kilometers between the towns, and that was true until about halfway there.  It turns out that a good bit of the way is underwater when the tide's in, and I found myself rather stuck. A local woman came along and tried to point me the right way, but we didn't get much further before she to couldn't walk much further without going for a swim. Fortunately, there are boats used as buses going back and forth, and one stopped for us and a couple of other people at that point.

Shela is much newer than Lamu Town, and not as restricted to maintain history.  So, this is where rich people have vacation homes. Thirty years ago, it was a fishing village, but now it's full of boutique guesthouses and such; it's nicer than Lamu Town, but I'm glad I'm staying in the old town.  Shela was too quiet. It's a pretty place, though, and the beach is very nice.  I wandered around the mostly deserted pathways a bit and poked in some souvenir shops before having lunch and reading for a while at my shady table overlooking the water.  

After lunch, I took a long walk down the beach.  The beach is about 12 kilimeters long, but I just walked until it started to curve around the end of the island.  There were only a few people out; I think I met more donkeys on the sand than people.  

I like this shot, except for that guy with the obnoxious orange pants...

Several dhows, the old-fashioned wood sailing boats, came by.  They all seem to have flags from different countries...

Looking across the channel to Pemba Island.  There is a resort hotel over there and some ruins that are supposed to be interesting. 

This incredible building looks like something out of the Crusades; it turns out it's a privately owned villa. 

Back in Shela, waiting for a boat back to Lamu.

Must be carpet-washing day...

Ngarash Juu

Some days I'm really struck by the fact that I live in a beautiful place.  Today was one of those days.  I went with Tammy and the girls up to Ngarash Juu, a neighborhood of farms up on the slopes of the mountain up over the school, to visit some people who live up there.  It was a beautiful sunny afternoon, and the view down over the fields and to the valley below was stunning.  

Drive to Monduli

I enjoyed the drive from the airport to Monduli, despite being tired and feeling gross after sleeping in my clothes on the flight; the landscape is so different here and I took plenty of pictures out of the windshield.  We could see Mt Kilimanjaro from the area around the airport, but there were clouds so we could only see the lower slopes.  Just seeing the base of it gives a good idea of how big it must be, though.  I look forward to seeing it better someday in clearer weather. 

did pass near Mt Meru, which is just north of Arusha, on the way as well; it wasn't terribly clear today but more so than Kilimanjaro.  I'll be close enough to that one to get plenty of chances to see it, though.  It's the fifth highest mountain in Tanzania.

We passed through the city of Arusha, the closest large city to us (and I believe it is the third largest in Tanzania), and then on towards Monduli mountain.  The landscape between Arusha and Monduli is mostly flat with sudden large, barren hills jutting up out of nowhere; it's clear we're well into the dry season (there haven't been significant rains since May and won't be until at least November).  The land is dusty, with brown, parched grasses and the occasional scrubby tree or bush.  It's barren but beautiful.  While I'm not looking forward to the mud of the rainy season, it'll be fun to see this desert-like land burst into bloom.  

And finally...pulling up to the gate in front of the Shorts' house.  I'll be staying in their guest house for a while.