A DAY IN NAIROBI
Wednesday 15 November 2006
Awake at 0400- reread tour instructions, breakfast at 0700 and then to work on the blog. It shouldn't be at all complicated, but I am still a cyber idiot. Briefing at 1100 with the usual stupid questions and a couple of senior moments in the crowd. (Mine wasn't one of them) There's about 100 here and we pick up more in Mombassa. Our hotel full because there is a UN sponsored conference on environmental cleanup in a city drowning in diesel pollution. Lunch in the hotel was excellent, especialy the rice pudding. Then 2:30pm city tour with the usual drill- 6 people to a vehicle. One patron recent stroke from the appearance of his arm kept walking into traffic. Finally got into one of the beat up land rover's and had a half hour ride to the "snake museum" which is under renovation. Green mambas, forest cobras, rock pythons and a lot of turtles. Gabon viper looked especially bad.
African cities are inerchangeable. I could have been in Manzini in Swaziland or even Port au Prince, Haiti- almost total disorganization but the traffic moves and things sort of get done. Briefing warned us of African attitude about time. Tour continued downtown and there have been changes in the past 30 years- more people for one thing- 3 million of them.This time the reguees are from Sudan- 30 yrs ago they were from Uganda escaping Idi Amin. They have cut down the huge Banyan tree in front of the New Stanley - said it was damaging the foundation. Saw the grounds of the former American embassy- new one is further out of town. Narrow streets are crowded with people who have to walk out of city center for transportation- no mass transit in town. Warned not to put arms out of window because thieves steal watchs right off your wrist. Couldn't get close to the conference center because of security but from a distance a modern edifice.
Tonight had dinner at the "Carnivore" all meat dinner ranging from chicken wings to Ostrich (meat) balls. The camel was seasoned the best- No antelope as banned by government. Free wine but water $4 a liter- wine wasn't bad. The short rains are here so I hope the trip to Amboseli tomorrow is in good weather.
Awake at 0400- reread tour instructions, breakfast at 0700 and then to work on the blog. It shouldn't be at all complicated, but I am still a cyber idiot. Briefing at 1100 with the usual stupid questions and a couple of senior moments in the crowd. (Mine wasn't one of them) There's about 100 here and we pick up more in Mombassa. Our hotel full because there is a UN sponsored conference on environmental cleanup in a city drowning in diesel pollution. Lunch in the hotel was excellent, especialy the rice pudding. Then 2:30pm city tour with the usual drill- 6 people to a vehicle. One patron recent stroke from the appearance of his arm kept walking into traffic. Finally got into one of the beat up land rover's and had a half hour ride to the "snake museum" which is under renovation. Green mambas, forest cobras, rock pythons and a lot of turtles. Gabon viper looked especially bad.
African cities are inerchangeable. I could have been in Manzini in Swaziland or even Port au Prince, Haiti- almost total disorganization but the traffic moves and things sort of get done. Briefing warned us of African attitude about time. Tour continued downtown and there have been changes in the past 30 years- more people for one thing- 3 million of them.This time the reguees are from Sudan- 30 yrs ago they were from Uganda escaping Idi Amin. They have cut down the huge Banyan tree in front of the New Stanley - said it was damaging the foundation. Saw the grounds of the former American embassy- new one is further out of town. Narrow streets are crowded with people who have to walk out of city center for transportation- no mass transit in town. Warned not to put arms out of window because thieves steal watchs right off your wrist. Couldn't get close to the conference center because of security but from a distance a modern edifice.
Tonight had dinner at the "Carnivore" all meat dinner ranging from chicken wings to Ostrich (meat) balls. The camel was seasoned the best- No antelope as banned by government. Free wine but water $4 a liter- wine wasn't bad. The short rains are here so I hope the trip to Amboseli tomorrow is in good weather.
Labels: Nairobi to Rio 2006
posted by DT at 10:52 AM
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