1993 - AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
1987 - CENTRAL ENGLAND
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1993 - AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
1993 - AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
We left snowy, cold Greenville and arrived in Sydney to hot, muggy weather. But we were off to see the city in a nice, air-conditioned bus. The bus made a complete loop of the city, with the driver narrating all the way. It was a great way to see the city. Then we took a ferry across the harbor, with a beautiful view of the famed Opera House.
Another day, we walked all the way from our hotel to the Opera House and even ventured into the lobby. Very well-dressed people were arriving for a concert, and we felt quite out of place! Then we walked all the way around the edge of the harbor to a perfect vantage point for pictures. We set up our tripod and watched the city lights come on. The sky was pink and gradually darkened. The Opera House and the Bridge lit up, a breathtaking sight. We hated to leave, but we had a 45-minute walk back to our hotel, and it was through the darkened park. We sensed it was a bit dangerous, and Al had only the tripod for a weapon! Later, we learned that it was not advisable to walk through the park at night.
Ansett, the Australian airline, had a coupon special for 5 flights within the country, and we took advantage of that.
TASMANIA (an island off the coast of Australia)
TASMANIA (an island off the coast of Australia)
This was the first of our Ansett flights. Within 30" of takeoff, there was a hot meal on our tray! We picked up our rental car and started driving through the spectacular scenery. We had views of Tasman Bay, mountains, and thousands of sheep.
We stayed overnight in the "Hayloft," a very charming place with outside steps leading up to the door. It was a beautiful room with a balcony overlooking the pasture, dry stone walls, sheep, and the sea. We woke up the next morning to the sound of waves, sheep, and singing birds. We had been given a basket of bread, fruit, milk, and juice, and we fixed our own breakfast.
We were advised to go see Liffey Falls, so that was our exciting adventure for the day. The road was narrow with sharp switchbacks, a real challenge, which Al loved. A 20" hike through a dense rainforest took us to two sets of waterfalls. Spectacular!
We stayed in the village of "Penguin," which even had a large statue of a penguin on its main street. Our host offered to drive us to see the penguins come in. (They swim all day catching food to bring to their babies.) There weren’t many there, but he did catch one and held it for a picture. It yelped, cried, and bit his thumb!
MELBOURNE
We flew to Melbourne, a 45" flight, and they served us a hot lunch! Friends met us at the airport, and we stayed with them for a couple of nights. They were very excited and happy to show us their beautiful city. They drove us by the church they attend—a mix of Presbyterian, Methodist, and Congregational. The church is called the "Uniting" Church.
The "Healesville Sanctuary" was the highlight of the day. There we saw platypuses, pelicans, kangaroos, emus, and goliath birds.
One baby kangaroo was still riding in his mother’s pouch, he was so big his feet stuck out! We were just in time for feeding the koalas. They munched on fresh gum tree branches and posed nicely for us.
PENGUIN PARADE
This is a great tourist attraction! We walked on boardwalks to the beach, where there were grandstands set up. Strict rules: no flash photography and stay seated. At dusk, the penguins started marching up through the sand, returning to their chicks waiting in their burrows. Their bellies were bulging, full of food that they would regurgitate for their chicks. (We bought this picture.)
GREAT OCEAN ROAD
"The Twelve Apostles" (limestone pillars) were once connected to the mainland cliffs. Waves and wind carved them into caves, then arches, and eventually just tall columns. Since we were there, two of them have collapsed. If you watch the Australian Open tennis tournament, the opening scenes include "The Twelve Apostles."
ALICE SPRINGS
In the barrenness of the Australian outback, Alice Springs is an oasis, green with grass and trees. However, the river running through the town is just a dry creek bed, a trickle of water. We took pictures and swatted flies, they were terrible!
ALICE SPRINGS
On to Ayers Rock, the most famous landmark in Australia. We were very glad we had a rental car so we could do our own sightseeing. We were glad for the AC because the temperature was over 100. But we just couldn’t tolerate the flies, they landed on our heads, arms, and shirts, and you couldn’t shoo them off. So we bought fly nets to cover our heads and faces.
We spent all afternoon driving around "The Rock." It is composed of red sandstone and is the world's largest monolith, 1,143 ft. tall with a circumference of 6 miles. It was very impressive, with the brilliant sunshine turning it bright shades of gold. We also drove a few more miles to the Olgas, another impressive sight with several large rock formations.
Later, we drove out to Ayers Rock for sunset pictures. We took pictures as the Rock turned many shades of red, and by 7:30 it was black.
It is a very popular thing to climb Ayers Rock, and we decided to give it a try. We were out there at sunrise. Others were there already, starting the climb. We were well prepared: hats with fly nets, backpacks with cameras, film, and 2 liters of water. The climb looked very steep, strenuous, and formidable, but we started up. My sneakers seemed to grip the sandstone okay, but Al’s hiking boots were not so secure. We went about 100 ft., and I was a little ahead when Al said, “Wait.” He was on his hands and knees, afraid to get back up - afraid of slipping and falling. I inched my way back to him, and we both decided to call it quits. “Discretion is the better part of valor.” We crept back down very carefully.
Instead, we followed a trail around the base of the Rock. There were many caves, overhangs, and sacred places marked “no photos.” Looking up at the rock, we could see a tiny line of hikers silhouetted against the sky. They looked like insects. Glad we weren’t there!
There are stories of hikers who have fallen, and you can see little crosses at various places. The souvenir stores sell t-shirts that say “I climbed Ayers Rock” and others that say “I didn’t climb Ayers Rock - so what.” The aborigines have never been happy with tourists climbing their sacred mountain, and in Oct. 2019, it was officially banned. The day before the closing, thousands of tourists made the climb.
CAIRNS - THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
CAIRNS - THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
We rode on a big catamaran on beautiful turquoise water to “Moore Reef!” Then we switched to a semi-submersible boat for a cruise over the reef. Lots of coral and many fish were coming right by our windows.
KURANDA
Then we took a spectacular train ride through the rain forest over gorges, through 15 tunnels, with a view of the valley and ocean, and past 2 waterfalls. There was a local market with lots of arts and crafts. We watched brave boys “bungee jumping” off a high platform. For lunch, we had an authentic Aussie damper, a huge biscuit with butter, honey, and jam.
We drove over the mountains to see the Curtain Fig Tree and more waterfalls. We got out of the car at Zillie Falls and heard loud chattering sounds. We looked up and there were thousands of fruit bats hanging upside down in the trees, opening and closing their wings and chattering! Very weird sight, as was the sound! It was eerie.
So ended our adventure in Australia. It was time to travel on to New Zealand, just a short hop by plane.
1993 - NEW ZEALAND
We hiked to Fox Glacier, over a rocky riverbed, then up and over boulders, across a rickety bridge, and over wet rocks. I slipped and fell on a sloped rock, skinned my knee slightly, and shredded the seat of my jeans. The glacier was quite impressive and moving. There was a danger of falling ice. We had a safe return to our car after the one-hour hike and adventure. Then the sky turned blue, and we had a beautiful drive with snowcapped mountains reflected in Lake Hawea. We stayed at a B&B in Winnetka.
The next day was Sunday, and we wanted to attend a church service in Queenstown. On the map, it looked like there were 2 ways to get there, and one way was many miles shorter than the other. We chose the shorter one.
No one told us what that drive was like, or maybe we didn’t ask. It was a narrow, gravel road carved out of the side of the mountain, no guardrails, one hour of navigating steep, tight turns. I was on the outside edge, looking down, down, down at the hairpin curves unwinding below us and the valley far, far below.
(I can feel my toes curl even now as I write this.) I was truly frightened, but Al drove very slowly and carefully. There was very little traffic, thank goodness. I don’t remember what we did when we met another car. Maybe I closed my eyes. Safely in Queenstown, we could look up at the side of the mountain and see that road snaking down. People said, “Oh my! You came over the mountain! You should have taken the other road that goes around the mountain on flat land.” We relaxed and enjoyed the Presbyterian church service. I even knew 2 of the 4 tunes!
We took a safe swinging cable car to a restaurant high above Queenstown. There we ate our dinner while enjoying a fantastic view of the city and the lake. Parasails launched nearby and floated past our window.
The next morning, we were up early for the drive to Milford Sound. It is one of the top tourist attractions in New Zealand, and we were blessed with a beautiful day.
And then, sheep in the road ahead! Hundreds of sheep, and there was no way around them! They filled the road, even spilling over into the woods on either side. We slowly got closer and saw that there was only one shepherd and several dogs moving the sheep along. He motioned for us to come through, and we inched through the cacophony of bleating sheep, barking dogs, and whistles. As we got near the shepherd, we asked him how many sheep there were. He told us there were about 2,300, and he was moving them 10 kilometers to a new pasture.
Milford Sound is the most scenic and popular place in New Zealand. We had reservations for the 11:00 cruise on a real sailing ship. Sparkling day! Scenery unbelievable! Fjord with dark blue water, snow-peaked mountains, and dark green forests. We sailed all the way out to the Tasman Sea, then slowly back through that spectacular scenery. What a wonderful memory! We were so blessed.
Leaving Milford Sound, we drove through Homer Tunnel. It is rough-hewn out of rock, with no paving and no lights. They say that motorcycles and bicycles must be walked through the tunnel because you can’t balance a bicycle in the dark. Just keep driving slowly toward the circle of light at the end of the tunnel.
We kept seeing sheep, thousands of them. There are 55 million sheep and 3 million people in New Zealand.
We had reservations at “Ivy House.” It was certainly well named, for it was almost completely covered with ivy - some had even crept into the interior of the house. They were both gourmet cooks, and what an elegant dinner we had. Dessert was black currant-apple cobbler topped with real whipped cream! They also called ahead to a friend’s place for our “farm stay” the next night.
It turned out to be our favorite of the whole trip. We will remember the dinner that featured “hogget.” They told us it was a yearling sheep, not a lamb, not a mature sheep, and not to be confused with that dreadful haggis. We thought it was about the most delicious meat we had ever tasted, and we have never seen it since.
Lo and behold, the next morning was sheep shearing day! What luck for us. We were on the scene right after breakfast, cameras ready. Hundreds of bleating sheep were crowded into pens. The sheep shearer would grab one and expertly run the electric clippers over its body. Strangely, the sheep didn’t complain. In about 2 minutes, it was over, and the now naked sheep was pushed down a chute. An unexpected bonus to our New Zealand adventures.
At the airport the next day, we learned there was an Antarctica exhibit just a short 8-minute walk away. There was an excellent multimedia slide show, and we got to walk through a very realistic ice cave - it was nice and cool. We never dreamed that someday we would visit Antarctica for real!
1993 - ALASKA AGAIN
Two years later, we flew to Alaska (frequent flyer miles), picked up a rental car, and started new adventures. We stayed in a log cabin in Talkeetna, the town nearest Denali. (We found footsteps in our room.) We booked a plane trip with a bush pilot to take us to Ruth Glacier, under the shadow of Denali. We flew over glaciers with bright blue patches of ice. We were very close to Denali, only a few wispy clouds across its face. We landed on the glacier and stepped out onto packed snow, covering 3,000 ft. of ice. An unforgettable experience.
RAFT TRIP
We were outfitted with rubber boots, jackets, pants, and life vests. We left backpacks behind and kept cameras covered. Safety talk, what to do if we fall out of the raft: “Keep your feet pointing downstream, we will try to pick you up.” We sat on the edge of the raft and held on to two ropes, and we were off! The guide sat in the middle with oars to steer us. Beautiful scenery with mountains and cliffs, clouds, and blue sky. We hit some rough spots - raft bobbed up and down like a roller coaster, almost ran into a rock wall. It was an exciting trip, but we were glad to disembark!
STERN WHEELER BOAT TRIP
In Fairbanks. Our B&B was a nice home on the river, and we found footsteps in the bathtub!
The Discovery boat was full of tourists, but there was plenty of room on a beautiful, sunny day. A bush pilot demonstrated taking off and landing on a 50 ft. runway. Also, a sled dog demo that we watched from the boat. We had a tour of an Eskimo/Indian village. Delightful 4 hours, very much worth the cost.
DEMPSTER HIGHWAY
The famous/infamous highway is 400 miles of gravel. It followed a riverbed, up and down, around the mountains. Some stretches were good, others were washboard and there was a detour around a washed-out bridge. Many photo stops and many mosquitoes. We met only 20 vehicles all day. After 6 hours, we arrived at Eagle Plains Hotel, in the middle of nowhere and the only place to stay overnight. We didn’t expect any footsteps here, we didn’t even know the address of the place! So remote, probably limited mail service. We brought in our luggage, and there were footsteps! Between the beds! How did Mary do it? The girl at the desk said the letter came just yesterday - they get mail only once a week.
The next day, we crossed the Arctic Circle and the border into the Northwest Territories. Ferry crossing across a turbulent Peel River and then another ferry across the Mackenzie River. Saw some school children playing ball in their school yard. Very isolated - wonder where they live. We saw only 17 vehicles all day. We arrived in Inuvik - the farthest north you can drive on the North American continent (on a public road).
It was now June 18, and we were in the Land of the Midnight Sun. Except it was cold (40 degrees) and cloudy. We were invited to attend an Elderhostel lecture. The chief of Inuvik spoke - a woman called Miss Chief. She told how the Indians lived a simple, industrious life, took care of themselves. Then the government came in to help them, social welfare for all, alcohol, beginning of The end. Government goodwill programs wiped out initiative. 1 government worker for every 4 people.
We toured a local school - 425 students, K-6. They must go “out” for higher grades. Only 10% graduate from high school. Until 18 years ago, the school was segregated right down the middle - Anglican/Catholic. Locked doors in the middle kept them separate. All united now.
Today was a day of celebration at Inuvik, “Midnight Madness” Almost the longest day of the year. Village potluck dinner, we were invited, a feast of Thanksgiving for a good season of trapping, hunting, and fishing. There were dishes of caribou, dried fish, char, muskox, soups and salads, and lemon pie. We hurried from the dinner to the airport for our 7:30 flight to Tuktoyaktuk, an Eskimo village on the Beaufort Sea/Arctic Ocean. Beautiful ride at 500 ft. looking down on the great Mackenzie Delta, small lakes and ponds, and canals.
Toured the town with a native guide on bumpy roads with crude cabins; remote, primitive, dirty, dilapidated buildings and junked cars. But lots of happy children playing. Population 937. We had a chance to dip our toes or fingers in the freezing ocean.
Back in the plane at 11 p.m. for a still daylight flight back to Inuvik. The party was in full swing, with couples in native dress forming circles and doing their “jigging” dancing. Like clog dancing and square dancing. Reluctantly, we left the party and went to our hotel. It was 2 a.m. and it was still broad daylight. Back down the Dempster Highway, overnight at Eagle Plains again. Next day, we didn’t see another vehicle for 2 hours, then the morning traffic from Dawson started - a total of 30. Each one created a cloud of dust.
We had reservations at a Wolverine Lodge, gravel road, way back, remote hunting and fishing lodge very rustic antler for door handle. “You must be Mr. and Mrs. Albert Moore” showed us to our room, and there were footsteps on the floor! The Foxes struck again.
1994 - THE HOLY LAND & ITALY
Lucien Behar was our leader, and the group included many friends. We all gathered at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. We had a 9-hour layover in Rome where many Rook games were played! On to Tel Aviv where there were armed guards stationed all around the balcony encircling the terminal.
Caesarea
We had a view of the sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean from our hotel in Tel Aviv. But we were soon on the road. The first stop was the ruins at Caesarea. This was a 3,500-seat amphitheater where animals fought against people. Now it is used for plays and concerts. This is also where Paul the Apostle was in prison and Cornelius was the first convert. (Acts 10).
Mt. Carmel
Mount Carmel means “Vineyard of God” and is where Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal. Fire fell from heaven and consumed sacrifices, water, and the altar.
Biblical events around the Sea of Galilee
Our hotel for 3 nights was in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee. This is an area of many Bible events. We drove up the west side of Galilee and could see snow-covered Mount Hermon (8,450 ft.) in the distance, on the border between Lebanon and Syria. We saw the (possible) area of the Parable of the Sower and the valley where Jesus Christ healed the leper.
Our driver was Palestinian, and Lucien Behar explained that this was a real advantage when we came to road security stops. The guide on the bus was non-Christian, but she was well versed in the Bible. She read or quoted scripture at nearly every stop.
1st stop - Caesarea Phillipi
Nimrod Spring, one of 3 sources of the Jordan River (Matt: 16:13) It was very picturesque with rocks, caves, springs and waterfalls. We bought 2 small bottles, labeled “Water from Jordan River”, and we filled them. (We still have them somewhere...) We drove south through the Golan Heights with great views of Mt. Hermon. We crossed the Jordan River, a combination of all 3 sources.
2nd stop - Capernaum
Where Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law. A church has been built over the ruins of Peter’s house. It was here He healed the daughter of Jairus and He cast out evil spirits. Much of His ministry was here but, in the end, people didn’t follow Him, so He cursed the city. It was destroyed in the 8th century, excavated in the 1800s, and a church was built to commemorate Jesus. A synagogue was also built, also by Christians. Interesting fact: all synagogues face Jerusalem.
3rd stop - The Rock
Where Jesus placed fish and loaves and blessed them. Now the Rock is inside a church.
4th stop - Tiberius
Lunch break. We passed on a $17 “St. Peter’s Fish” restaurant meal. Instead, we had a delightful lunch by the lake: a roll from breakfast, orange and banana, and then ice cream.
5th stop - Boat ride on Galilee.
The boat stopped in the middle of the lake for a quiet service of scripture and singing. Here is where Jesus calmed the storm, here is where He walked on water. It was a very moving experience.
6th stop - Hills above Galilee
This is the site of the “Sermon on the Mount.” And a hillside where Jesus fed the 5,000.
7th stop - The statue of Do You Love Me? Feed My Sheep John 21:15
Next day: 1st stop - Mt. Tabor - Mt. of Transfiguration.
Matthew 17:2 states that Jesus "was transfigured before them; his face shining as the sun, and his garments became white as the light." At that point the prophet Elijah representing the prophets and Moses representing the Law appear and Jesus begins to talk to them.
A wild taxi ride took us to the top of Mt. Tabor. The one-armed taxi driver handled the switchbacks skillfully. From the top we had a panoramic view of the Valley of Armageddon. It is 50 miles by 9 miles and 2 major highways cross here: China to Egypt and Jordan to the Mediterranean.
2nd stop - Megiddo
Long walk up to the top of 21 layers of ruins. Then down 180 stone steps in a stone passageway. This was the way to get water when the enemy was outside the walls.
3rd stop - Nazareth
There are 2 places of the Annunciation where the angel appeared to Mary and told her she was going to have a baby. One is over a spring; the other is where Mary lived and is called “Church of Joseph the Carpenter.” We walked through the lovely gardens and just to add reality to the scene, we took pictures of a sleeping cat.
4th stop - we didn’t get out of the bus, but our guide pointed out to us the church of The Miracle of the Wine. This is where Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding feast.
Jordan River - Baptism
We had devotions in our room to prepare ourselves for baptism and read of the baptism of Jesus. Then a short drive to the baptism site where the Jordan River comes out of the Sea of Galilee. The place was all set up for baptisms: for $5 we each got a white cotton robe and a towel. There were several other groups nearby - their singing added to the atmosphere. We gathered near the water and most of our group had chosen to be baptized. A number had already had the baptism by immersion experience. And some, like us, had only been baptized as a baby. Al went first and I was next. I walked right into the cold water and Lucien put me under! A great spiritual experience, the highlight of our Holy Land trip! It is emotional even now as I write this.
Next stop - Beit-she’am
An excavation of an amphitheater where people were thrown to the lions. Then further on an excavation of a whole city and another big amphitheater large enough for 12,000. There were archeological digs still underway.
We drove through an armed check point into the West Bank area. There we saw refugee camps set up by the U.N. And also, shabby Palestinian villages and Bedouin (Nomad) tents. Lots of sheep and shepherds in fields the Israelis had irrigated.
There were only 2 bridges across the Jordan River, each 1 way. So, we carefully drove into Jordan under the watchful eye of an armed guard. We were thankful our driver was Palestinian and could make friendly talk with the guards.
Jericho
Demonstrations here last week made our visit a little iffy. I was expecting to see the ruins of the walls, but they are no longer there. The city was abandoned for 700 years and during that time, springs from the mountain washed away the ruins, probably to the Dead Sea. There was lots of action there in Jericho: springs to see, fresh fruit to buy and camels to ride. It was hot in Jericho - 93 degree!
We were the first to sign up for a camel ride and it was quite a roller coaster ride just to get on! The camel had all 4 legs folded under him while I cautiously climbed onto the saddle. Then he started to stand, first with his back legs. Suddenly I was at a 45-degree angle and at risk of falling off headfirst!! I desperately held on to the saddle as the camel lurched and got his front legs under him. The camel’s owner guided him on a short walk while I tried to relax and not worry about how I was going to get off! It wasn’t bad as someone was there to help me safely back to solid ground.
BETHLEHEM
A Greek Orthodox church was built over the place where Christ was born. We went down some narrow steps to the manger and stable locations; they are shrines now. And nearby is a Catholic church that also commemorates the Nativity.
Our breakfast was a strictly kosher meal. This was the start of Passover, and this hotel caters to Orthodox Jews. There were Shabbat elevators for them to use on their Sabbath. It stops at every floor, so they don’t have to push a button. (electricity) And in our closet was a “Sabbat clock” set to automatically turn the lights off and on.
JERUSALEM
As we drove from Jericho to Jerusalem, Lucien had us sing “We’re Marching to Zion.” Then as the city of Jerusalem came into view, Doris Scofield stepped to the microphone and sang that beautiful song, “The Holy City.”
“Last night I lay asleeping,
There came a dream so fair
I stood in old Jerusalem
Beside the temple there.
I heard the children singing
And ever as they sang
I thought the voice of angels
In heaven in answer rang
Jerusalem, Jerusalem!
Lift your gates and sing
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna to your King!”
MT. OF OLIVES
The church where Jesus taught the Lord’s Prayer. There were plaques on the wall with the Prayer in every language. We recited it in unison and then sang it.
JEWISH CEMETERY
It is on a hill looking across the valley to Jerusalem. There are many Jewish people buried here and there are small stones placed on each grave. Those buried here will be resurrected by the Messiah and will walk down the hill carrying some of the small stones. They will go across a small valley to Jerusalem. There they will enter through the Eastern Gate (also called Golden Gate) which has been sealed for over 1,000 years. And they will rebuild the Temple. The small stones they carry with them will provide a start. We sang, “I Will Meet You in the Morning - Just inside the Eastern Gate…”
GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE
These beautiful olive trees have been tested and found to be 2,000 years old. That would put them here at the time of Christ. It was here that Jesus prayed before His crucifixion
WAILING WALL
The Western Wall, known in the West as the Wailing Wall, is a portion of the ancient limestone wall in the Old City of Jerusalem. It forms part of the larger retaining wall of the hill known to Jews and Christians as the Temple Mount. Men have access to 2/3 of the wall; women 1/3. Of course, they are segregated so Al and I went separately to the Wall and said prayers for our family.
We could see the beautiful Dome of the Rock, but we weren’t allowed inside it. It is very important to all 3 major religions:
Jews believe this is the site of creation, where Abraham was ready to sacrifice his son.
Muslims believe it is where the Prophet Mohammad ascended to heaven.
Christians believe it is the Temple of Solomon
WAILING WALL
We had a walking tour through the Old City and saw some of the Stations of the Cross. We saw the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus told the man “Take up your bed and walk.”
Church of St. Anne (possible birthplace of Mary).
The place where Pilate washed his hands and said, “Take Him.”
Next the Chapel of Condemnation where they put the crown of thorns on His head.
Chapel of Flagellation where Jesus was whipped.
Then we walked on the Via Dolorosa where Jesus carried His cross. It was a narrow-crowded street with vendors and beggars. We came to the corner where Jesus fell. (3rd Station of the Cross). Important place for a picture as well as many street scenes but we were urged to hurry, hurry because it was hard to keep the group together in the crowd. I was often the laggard, taking pictures.
We exited the Old City through the Damascus Gate and crossed a busy street, then went up a short hill to the Garden Tomb. A guide took us to a seated area and gave a good explanation of the area. The Crucifixion took place near a busy road, not on a lonely hill.
It was called the Place of Death where there was stoning and death by pushing people off a cliff. It is still a noisy, busy place with a bus terminal just below. It is called Golgotha, the Place of the Skull and it fits all the descriptions.
We saw the tomb where Christ was buried and then resurrected. It is a very believable site with a rock wall, small door and even a track where a huge stone could be rolled. We each had a chance to go in the tomb. We had to stoop to enter. Inside was just the rock wall and a shelf big enough to hold a body. We all sat on stone benches as Lucien gave a short devotional and then served Communion. It was a very moving experience to think we were right where Jesus was when Mary saw Him on that Easter morning.
From that joyful place we went to the Children’s Monument honoring the 1 1/2 million children killed in the Holocaust. It was an eerie, haunting experience to walk through a dark room with candles reflected thousands of times. It was like twinkling stars below, above and all around us and a voice chanting the names and ages of the children. Outside there was a statue of a mother grieving for her children.
The Holocaust Museum
Had heart wrenching statues, pictures of Jews in bondage, being marched to death camps, and corpses piled in graves. It was terrible to witness.
Outside the museum, the Trees of the Righteous were planted to honor those who tried to help. One tree was named for Oskar Schindler. A movie was made of his heroic efforts - “Schindler’s List.”
Dead Sea Scrolls - and more lectures. It was interesting to see and read Psalm 151, a short biography of David, not in our Bibles. One more activity to add to our busy day, an Israeli Folklore program. Excellent show with exuberant young dancers. I especially enjoyed their grand finale number of the Hora. I had taught it to the children in my gym classes and now I wanted to teach it to our travel group. No takers…
We joined Doris and another couple to visit Jerusalem on our own. A 15-minute walk took us to the Old City and the Jaffa Gate. What an adventure to walk through the narrow streets crowded with people, carts and shops full of merchandise. Sights, sounds and smells of Jerusalem. We found a nice carved statue of Peter washing Jesus’ feet. Marked $70 but after much bargaining got it for $49. The shop-keepers were very pushy. We just took our time and enjoyed the flavor of the experience. We learned that last night an Arab shot and killed an Israeli just outside the Damascus Gate. Some of our groups were warned not to go to the Old City today or to walk on the walls. We didn’t get the word. So we spent the day in the Old City.
We found the Jaffa Gate where there were steps up to the top of the wall and we paid someone 5 shillings to let us go up. It was very rough walking with uneven stones and narrow passages. But the view was worth it. Looking down we saw children playing, a lady working in her tiny garden, clothes hanging on a line. Such normal activities. We came to an exit turnstile and squeezed through.
We drove by a New Israeli settlement in occupied territory. It is called a “developing town.” People are enticed there by low interest, no income tax (others pay 55%), good job and salary. Driving to the Dead Sea area was a drop of 3600 ft. from Mt. of Olives. We stopped at the “Good Samaritan Inn.” This commemorates the incident of a Good Samaritan stopping to help an injured man.
We sang “On the Jericho Road” as we traveled on narrow switchbacks through the desert. We stopped to climb a small hill and view Kelt brook where Elijah was fed by the ravens.
MASADA
Is a 1400’ high fortress held by Jews refusing to surrender to the Romans. It is a symbol of determination and heroism. For 3 years they held out using a secret hidden passage to obtain water. Meanwhile, the Romans were building a ramp to reach the top of the fortress. When the end looked inevitable, all the Jews committed suicide. We took a cable car to the top of Masada, others chose to hike up the trail.
THE DEAD SEA
It is 1,412 ft. below sea level and is the lowest spot on earth. It has no outlet, so the water is very dense and very salty. And it is known for the easy ability to float on top of the water. We changed into swimsuits and walked barefoot over the stoney beach to the famous Dead Sea. Little did I know that the Dead Sea was about to try claiming another victim. Death was about to stare me in the face.
We had been warned about briny water, 34% salt, and “Don't get your face in the water.” I sat down in the water and suddenly I was floating on top of the water. This is hard to believe but you cannot[1] [EM2] put your feet down and stand up. Somehow, I tried to turn over to get my feet down and stand up. The buoyancy forced my head down and I couldn’t keep it up out of the water and under I went. Terrible brine - burning - choking - and I panicked. I almost felt like I was going to die.
I grabbed for Al’s back and scratched it trying to hold on, “Help me - Help me!” Somehow, I got out of the water and to the freshwater showers. I was gagging and my throat burned and was sore for several days. Everyone else had a good time “floating in the Dead Sea.” I was just grateful to be alive!
Dead Sea Scrolls
A cave in the distance was pointed out as the place where the ancient scrolls were found. It was a desolate place in the desert with sand, mountains and ruins of a village.
On the way to the airport, we stopped in Emmaus to see the ruins of a church and a lovely, shaded path. This was the Road to Emmaus where Jesus appeared after his death and resurrection. This was a fitting climax to our visit to the Holy Land and we all went home singing:
I walked today where Jesus walked
In days of long ago
I wandered down each path He knew
With reverent step and slow
Those little lanes, they have not changed
A sweet peace fills the air
I walked today where Jesus walked
And felt His presence there
ROME AND FLORENCE
ST. PETER’S BASILICA IN VATICAN CITY IN ROME
This is one of the largest churches in the world and the home of the Pope. The dome was designed by Michelangelo and was raised in place in just 22 months thanks to the tireless work of 800 laborers. On the mosaic frieze at the base of the dome, the words (in Italian) “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church and give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven”- Matt. 16:18-19.
St. Peter’s is perhaps most famous for Michelangelo’s paintings in the Sistine Chapel.
The ceiling paintings in vivid colors looked almost 3D. Michelangelo painted all these while lying on his back.
Michelangelo created the life-like sculpture shown below when he was only 24 yrs.old
Michelangelo’s famous sculpture of Moses. He is 8 ft. tall sitting down. Under his right arm are the Ten Commandments. The 2 horns on his head are speculated to be the source of the flashes of light when Moses came down from Mt. Sinai. He is sitting on a marble chair between 2 marble columns.
It took Michelangelo 3 years to complete this masterpiece. Two other sculptors had tried and rejected this piece of marble as ruined. Then Michelangelo created this masterpiece!
In Rome we drove past the monument to Victor Emanuel - there was a military ceremony in progress.
We walked around the Forum. It was
the center of day-to-day life - elections,
public speaking and triumphal processions.
The Colosseum is largest ancient
amphitheater ever built and could hold
50,000 to 80,000 people. It was used
for gladiator contests, re-enactments
of famous battles, mock sea battles.
The partial collapse was caused by earthquakes.
Trevi Fountain was made famous by
The song “Three Coins in the Fountain.”
Tiber River and St. Peter’s Basilica
1994 SOUTH AFRICA - NEW EXPERIENCES
1994 SOUTH AFRICA - NEW EXPERIENCES
Tiber River and St. Peter’s Basilica
Tiber River and St. Peter’s Basilica
In 1994 we spent 4 weeks in South Africa, and again, we had a rental car. It came with an immobilizer to prevent theft. And for extra security we had a “club” we attached to the steering wheel. Car theft is a big problem in South Africa. All our friends there have had a vehicle stolen despite great precautions. They all live behind walls and a locked gate. Even then it’s not entirely safe. Trygvar, a creative builder, put together a metal cage in his carport. Their car was driven into it and the cage was padlocked inside the high walls and the locked gate. There are bars on their windows and doors. It is just a way of life and they all seem used to it. It took some adjustment for us.
One day we went to Sun City. The drive took us through the poorest part of one of the homelands - hovels, shacks with tin roofs, dry, brown fields - so very poor. And then we came to Sun City - like Disneyland in the desert. It is an extravagant resort. Gambling like Las Vegas, Lost City like a theme park, swimming pool with artificial waves, water slides and much more. We were most impressed with the life size elephant statues. There was even a simulated earthquake. We felt it!
We ate lunch in the very fancy restaurant. It was very formal with white tablecloths, linen napkins and black suited waiters. We each ordered a salad and it took 2 waiters to serve it. One held the tray while the other placed the plates. We also had a basket of rolls and crackers. It was a very different experience. The ladies room had a stack of ironed, starched towels for individual use. And then the drive back through the poor, barren land with people barely clothed. What a contrast!
We had another Marriage Encounter in the J’burg area. This was at a camp that was very primitive and bare of furniture. Our room had 3 sets of bunk beds - no furniture, not even a chair. I think they were set up for youth camps. There were not many couples attending and one of the wives had to almost drag her husband. During one of the Saturday afternoon talks, he left the room in tears. Later he said, “I didn’t want to come here this weekend but the Lord had an appointment with me today.” So once again, an inspiring weekend.
Just a week later we had another Marriage Encounter weekend, this time in Simonstown overlooking False Bay, south of Cape Town. Now we needed a bigger vehicle for the drive to Cape Town, almost 900 miles. Our good friend, Ruth, generously offered her kombi, stocked with pillows and thermos full of water. It was an interesting drive through the middle of the country. In Cape Town we met our friends, Jim and Betty Buick, who would spend the next 3 weeks with us. We were eager to show them some of our favorite places in South Africa. Jim had just retired and they were ready for some adventures.
We drove down to Cape Point where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet. (This is a little controversial as some believe the meeting point is CapeAgulhass off the south coast.) We encountered fierce, gale force winds and overly friendly baboons. They climbed onto the hood (bonnet) of the kombi and stared at us through the windshield (wind screen). A mother baboon clutching her baby was right beside the road.
We got ourselves all settled in the lovely Rocklands resort. We had very comfortable rooms and a great view of the crashing surf. This was a very special weekend for us - it was our 100th Marriage Encounter. And no doubt the most picturesque location.
There are unusual weather patterns there. After breakfast we stepped outside to feel the very warm berg wind, and then we had a brief, sudden downpour, rare thunder, and the wind shifted from east to west and back to east again. They were happy to see the rain. - It had been a long dry spell and now this was the beginning of the rainy season.
Not only were the facilities very nice but the meals were also outstanding. A leg of lamb had been roasting on the barbecue grill all afternoon, turning slowly on a spit. The aroma was wonderful! It was served with a rich gravy/sauce and a variety of hot dishes and salads.
That evening we all relaxed around the blazing fireplace for a candle light service and time of sharing.
Sunday morning was a time of celebration. There were some real miracle stories that some of them voluntarily shared. One of the couples, all smiles, offered us their vacation house near George as we traveled back to J’burg’ Sorry it didn’t work out. Another couple had gone through some real trauma in their marriage and they couldn’t get past it. Counselors had advised them to get a divorce. Now their plans are all changed since God stepped in. We had brought prayer letters for each couple from our friends in the States. They were so touched by this personal touch.
Then we were surprised when they presented us with an African bag and hat to commemorate our 100th M. E. weekend. When we went back to our room we found footsteps, the Foxes did it again!
To wind down from a rather emotional weekend we went out for dinner with Jim and Betty. It was their anniversary and we gave them S. African gifts. A rather unusual dinner, ostrich stroganoff.
CAPE TOWN
Then we were off to show Jim and Betty some of the beautiful places in S. Africa. We started in Cape Town and got to see Table Mountain on a blue sky day and with a white tablecloth on top of the table. The cable car was closed because of high winds.
GARDEN ROUTE
We meandered our way on the beautiful Garden Route that follows the south coast of South Africa. We stopped in Stellenbosch, a classic Dutch town and had a milk tart at an outdoor tea room.
We also visited Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of Africa. The lighthouse was a challenge but we climbed to the top. 71 steps and a series of 5 ladders. (We were young then.) Then, in true South African tradition, they served us a cream tea.
STEAM TRAIN RIDE
These trains are almost extinct now but there was still one in South Africa from George to Knysna. We stayed in a spartan retreat center in George. We were given hot water bottles for our cold beds. Two couples staying there were happy to drive our kombi to Knysna for us in exchange for the other half of our roundtrip tickets. The ride was spectacular as we rode through green valleys, along the ocean, winding up and down, and across an old trestle bridge, whistleblowing and black smoke puffing.
Sadly, this train no longer operates since the trestle bridge fell into disrepair. (Picture thanks to Google)
This is another national park and it is located right on the ocean. We had been here before so we knew it was a great place. We checked into an almost new cabin just a few (safe) feet from the ocean. The surf was as we remembered it - crashing high above the rocks. Jim and Betty were quite impressed! We had “tea and crumpets” and sat on our deck watching the waves hit the rocks and shoot high up in the air. A seagull sat on the railing a long time real close to us. The low sun hitting the waves made great photos! There were 4 hot water bottles in our room. We used all of them!
We went on a hike to a suspension bridge over a gorge. To get there we went on a wooden walkway and then down some very steep steps to get to the bridge. It was fun to walk across it, high above the green forest and little stream.
We returned to the ocean, it kept calling us back. We sat at an outdoor table and watched the crashing surf hit the rocks and go way up high. The sea gulls were very friendly as were the little dassies scampering around. We hated to leave such a delightful place. Jim said we definitely did not oversell this one.
ADDO ELEPHANT RESERVE
This small game reserve provided us with the most exciting time of our whole trip. Jim and Betty had never seen an elephant in the wild and we were anxious to show them. Jim was driving the kombi and Al was next to him with a video camera ready to go. The dirt road soon became narrower with tall bushes on each side. That's when we saw an elephant in the road way ahead of us but coming toward us. Jim stopped. Now there were lots of elephants all moseying down the road. They were grabbing bites of greenery and swinging their trunks back and forth.
Engulfed with elephants
We couldn’t turn around, and we couldn’t back up. The video recorded the now famous words, “What do we do now?” “I don’t know, Jim.” They kept coming, right up to our windshield before turning and going around the kombi, brushing the sides with their enormous bodies. We were thankful to be in a big, tall kombi. If we were in a small car they could have easily rolled us over. Mothers were guiding and pushing little babies. The elephants were all around us! Al kept the video going and in the back seat I was going from one window to the other. I would slide open a window, stick my head and camera out and take a very close head on shot of ears flapping, trunk waving. Then quickly duck inside and slide the window shut. If I had left the window open an inch, I could have stuck my finger out and touched the elephant as she brushed against the side of the kombi! I wish I had!
We didn’t count but there must have been about 50 or more, probably going to the water hole for their morning drink. They finally all went around us. And then we heard a hissing sound from the kombi, The engine was overheating! The men jumped out and thinking there was an expansion tank, opened the cap. Boiling water gushed out, burning Al’s hand. Now we couldn’t drive on. So we waited and waited until another car came by and went for help. 30” later a ranger came and towed us to the rest camp.
We stayed in a spacious guest house there in Addo that night. We sat on the veranda and watched little vervets jump for the crumbs we threw to them. And just down the hill there was a water hole and we watched elephants come for a drink. Just so they stayed far away! Repairs were made to the kombi except there was an electrical problem and the oil warning buzzer was stuck on. And it was LOUD! LOUD! We drove with that incessant noise for 2 days before we found a mechanic to fix it.
We drove to Mt. Zebra National Park and just before the gate, we had a flat tire. To change the tire was a challenge, Al was no help with his burned and blistered hand. The jack was inadequate and it had to be supplemented with big flat rocks. So Jim managed by himself with just verbal support from Al. The next day we stopped in a sleepy little town and found a state-of-the-art tire shop. They had a new tire mounted in record time. But the LOUD alarm buzzer was still on.
GOLDEN GATE
Driving on, we stopped at Golden Gate National Park for an overnight in their lovely facility. We had been here before and we wanted Jim and Betty to see those golden cliffs. When the late afternoon sun hits them they really glow. It was a full moon that night and the cliffs were beautiful in the moonlight.
BETHLEHEM
A place had been recommended to us that had very good mechanics, maybe there was hope for that infernal buzzer. Sure enough. They found the overheating problem (in Kruger) had caused an electrical problem. And they fixed it! Cheers!
MARIA
We visited Maria, the young girl we support through our church. There are 9 children in the family and they all live in this tiny 4 room house. 3 girls sleep in one bedroom, the parents in the other. There is a building behind the house where the boys sleep.
They were expecting us and had a big dinner prepared. The living room was full of chairs with a small table in the middle. There was room for only the 4 of us and Mr. Mlombo. Al sat on a chair and the leg broke. And what a feast they had prepared! Everything was delicious.
Then Maria came in, very shy and very pretty with a beautiful smile. We had a box of gifts for her. A new shirt and skirt, lots of used clothing including wool sweaters, warm socks, robe and gown, and then towels, soap and lotion for the whole family. But the biggest hits were the small mirrors and caps from Greenville College.
They were all so grateful. Mr. Mlombo pastors a small church. We asked him what the church needs. He said if they could erect a fence it would help keep the thieves away. So we gave him money for a fence. When we visited the family again a few years later, we asked about the fence. He said the thieves stole the fence!
KRUGER PARK
And then we drove on to Kruger Park. The largest fenced game reserve in the world - the size of the state of Massachusetts. Just about our favorite place in the whole world. We drove ourselves on the narrow paved or gravel roads, speed limit 30 km/hr (18 mph) and you do NOT get out of your car.
We had to be inside the park and inside one of the many rest camps by 6:00 p.m. Gates were closed and locked to keep animals out and people safe. Each rest camp has numerous rondavels you can rent and a central dining room and gift shop. We drove slowly all day and saw hippos, lions, impala, kudu, zebra, wildebeest, elephants, warthogs, tsessebe, cape buffalo, waterbuck, giraffes, steenbok, and baboons. (not all in one day) Sometimes we would go a long time without seeing anything and then suddenly a giraffe or a herd of impalas or a zebra. We were lucky to catch this lion with a big yawn or was it a roar?
We saw several small elephants luxuriating in mud and water. They would roll in it, slide down a slope, splash, and even toss mud at each other. At one water hole we saw an elephant slip and fall on his backside with a great splash. The zebras all ran. We even caught it all on camera. We think he was a bit embarrassed.
We saw two huge bull elephants right beside the road, eating grass and leaves. I was so concentrating on the one nearest us, that I didn’t notice the other one coming out of the bush and heading right for us. Al accelerated the kombi and the elephant chased us!
It was time to return the kombi to our friend who so generously loaned it to us. She innocently asked, “Did you have any problems?” Well, let’s see.maybe just a few. But we told her how very, very grateful we were for the kombi despite the problems. And it might have been a life saver in Addo.
One time not so far off from Bethlehem’s plain
The combo was making loud sounds
Despite all the poking and looking around
The source of the noise was not found.
So on they continued for mile after mlle
The noise was both constant and loud
We cannot go on like this day after day
The four weary travelers allowed.
In Bethlehem city they found a car shop
With mechanics who said if they could
They would find the bad switch and pull off the wire
And silence the buzzer for good.
The travelers waited and soon it was done
The bill was for 96 rand
So Buicks and Moores were again on the road
And this time the silence was grand.
1994 KENYA SAFARI
This was an extension of our traveling with Jim and Betty Buick. After our exciting time in South Africa, we flew from Johannesburg to Nairobi, Kenya.
Charles, our driver/guide, met us at the Nairobi airport and we were soon settled in his Nissan Kombi. He would be our driver/guide and stay with us all the way. It was a long drive into the city to Hotel Jacaranda. So named because of the beautiful jacaranda trees that bloom in their spring. We left our extra luggage with a porter who would store it safely for the time we would be gone on safari. When we went back to the lobby an hour later, our luggage was still sitting there, unattended, with people coming and going. We soon got it to a safe storage room. We were warned not to leave the hotel, the streets are very dangerous.
Charles picked us up at 8:30 the next morning. Stopped to buy a case of bottled water (which we came to appreciate even though it was soon hot water.) Very interesting drive through the Maasai area seeing people in long colorful robes. We weren’t supposed to take their picture but we did sneak a few. Lots of cattle along the way, often with young boys tending them.
After the city suburbs, we turned onto a dirt road and for the next 2 1/2 hours we bounced and lurched and rattled over the worst roads we have ever been on. And we had a flat tire (Charles quickly changed it.) The kombi did not have A/C so we had the windows open for the hot air and dust to come in. Then when Charles saw an especially deep hole he would tell us to quickly close the windows. The dust would roll over the top of the kombi as we plowed through the cloud of dust. We saw many dust devils (like a small tornado.)
AMBOSELI
Famous for its view of Mt. Kilimanjaro, we finally arrived at Amboseli Lodge, like an oasis in the desert. Green grass, trees and flowers and a number of cabins. The sign in ours said “Do not leave windows open as monkeys may come in.” We had mosquito netting to drape over our bed at night. And they had a special something they burned at night (like a candle) that was a mosquito repellant. We were also taking malaria preventative medicine.
Afternoon game drive. Again over dusty, terribly rough, rutted roads. But at least Charles drove slower. And animals by the hundreds, the plains were full of them. Zebra and wildebeest mainly but also elephants! It was fun to stand up in our kombi and shoot pictures of them. A real safari!
Did you know there are no two zebras alike?
And yet, they are black with white stripes.
The melting ice from Mt. Kilimanjaro forms a large muddy swamp. The best place for pictures was the swamp where the elephants were wallowing belly deep in the muddy water. When they emerged they looked two-toned. Then the weather cleared and we got our pictures of elephants with Mt. Kilimanjaro behind them.
We felt hot and dusty (wonder why?) so after a shower and shampoo we felt refreshed and ready for dinner. A table by the window for a delicious meal: Greek salad, soup, steak with vegetables, rolls, and pear tart with caramel sauce. Then coffee on the veranda. Clear night, lots of stars. Betty says “this is really Africa!”
MAASAI VILLAGE
No pictures allowed but when we each gave $10 to the chief, we could take all the pictures we wanted! Thorn bush fences were around a cluster of small mud huts. Everyone was dressed in bright flowing robes, with lots of jewelry. The men demonstrated their jumping skills. Little toddlers, wearing only a shirt, clung to their mother’s robes.
The women stood in a half circle, sang a welcome song and then offered us their wares for sale. Lots of wooden or beaded jewelry, any size or price you want.
They also had carved animals including a beautiful 15” kudu which caught my eye. A kudu has unique long spiral horns. The price was 2,000 shillings (40$). I said “no” and walked away. Of course they came after me. “How much do you give me, lady?” I countered with a ridiculous price of 500 sh. or $10. They said 700. Again I walked away with Al loudly muttering “How would we get it home?” The young man could see he was about to lose a sale so he said, “OK, 500.” (See picture at end of this story.)
We stooped low to go inside a hut (why do these tall people have such low doorways?) It was very dark and cramped. A small fire in the middle with something cooking in a pot. No outlet for the smoke. A few blankets along the edge of the hut for their sleeping spaces. We were told that they drink the same water as their animals. And they don’t kill and eat wild animals for food, only their own cattle, chickens and goats. Their diet is just meat, milk and sometimes mealie. No fruits or vegetables. And they sometimes drink blood mixed with milk…
We got to visit their “school,” which consisted of some benches under a tree with about 80 children, poorly dressed and dirty. Some of them had come from another village just visible over the barren fields. But they sang for us and a teacher had a little 3 year old come up and lead a recitation. As she pointed to a picture on a chart, they would all recite “One apple, 2 bananas, 3 cars…”
It was so cute but also frustrating to see the children trying to learn. Their teacher had so little to work with: a chalkboard and a chart. Each child had a small book and writing tablet. We all contributed to an offering. Most of the adults do not read or write.
We had a late afternoon game drive that was quite dramatic. A storm cloud, black in contrast to the rest of the sky, descended to the ground like a curtain. It marched across the desert sand, blowing up quite a sand storm. The rain went around us but it was awesome to see the animals running from the storm.
We took pictures of the adorable vervets running all over the ground. A mother with her tiny baby at her breast, then riding on her back or hanging underneath. They were very friendly and bold. They came right up to our door and windows - we had to shoo them away.
CARNIVORE RESTAURANT
Leaving Amboseli, the long dusty road didn’t seem quite so bad. Back in Nairobi, Charles took us to the famous Carnivore Restaurant. In the middle of the restaurant was a huge circular fire pit. A multitude of skewers filled with meat were all being grilled. A waiter put a red flag on our table, then brought 12 different kinds of meat to our table. “Would you like some ostrich?” “Yes, I’ll try some”. And he would carve some onto your plate (with a Maasai sword). This was repeated with chicken livers, crocodile, giraffe, antelope, wildebeest, warthog and many others. Surprisingly, Warthog was our favorite. He brought meat until we put the flag down. Finished with pineapple pie and ice cream. Quite an experience! This was included in our tour package but I think it was about $85.
We drove on the main paved highway that goes from Mombasa on the East coast all the way across the continent of Africa to a seaport on the West coast. Traffic was heavy but we were thrilled with the sight of the Great Rift Valley, It starts in Jordan and goes all the way through Africa. It’s 4300 miles and includes the Jordan River, Sea of Galilee, Red Sea and Dead Sea. And Lake Nakuru.
LAKE NAKURU
Charles tried hard to find game for us and then he got a phone call about 2 lions under a tree. We sped to the spot and there they were, relatively close. I grabbed my Minolta, zoomed in on
his head, auto focused, a Huge Yawn and the camera wouldn’t fire. It was a once-in-a-lifetime picture and I blew it!
There were millions of flamingoes there at Lake Nakuru. They are attracted to the soda in the water and the blue algae that floats on top of it. Charles drove right out onto the beach so we could get close up pictures. But it was cloudy so our pictures are only so-so. We wish this picture was one we had taken.
MASA MARA
Back on the main highway again and then we descended into the Rift Valley. Now we were in Maasai country and the roads were the worst yet. Unrelenting bone jarring, teeth rattling, lurching and bouncing over boulders, ruts and huge holes. Charles often drove on the shoulder that was only slightly better. It was like this for almost 4 hours. It was hot 95 degrees and we had to keep the windows closed most of the time because of the dust. At one point Charles said he was taking a short cut (the road was terrible) because the other road was much worse! Truly an endurance test but we finally arrived at Paradise Lodge.
We were shaken and exhausted so we felt relieved when we got to our pretty cabin with a secluded front porch. We were right on the river and we could hear the hippos snorting back and forth. They were very noisy but fun to listen to.
Evening game drive, we saw a cheetah and her little cubs! The mother is so camouflaged you can hardly see her. (Upper left hand corner)
HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE
This was the day of our hot air balloon ride! We were awakened at 4:45 by a knock on our door. By 5:15 we were in a 4 wheel drive Land Rover bouncing along in the dark, through the bush, animal eyes gleaming in the dark. How the driver ever found his way through the ruts and brush and open fields. But he reached the designated place we were to meet and soon the truck arrived with the balloon and crew.
The balloon and equipment were quickly unloaded and the crew started filling the balloon with air. Doug, the operator/pilot/owner, was from Michigan, a little town near Grand Rapids and about 2 miles from where Jim and Betty live! He has a balloon business there and they have often seen his balloons flying over their house. It's an incredible coincidence that this pilot is from their hometown, almost!
Propane burners heated the air in the balloon and it rose until it was upright Six of us and the pilot climbed into the basket, a tight fit. We could sit if we wanted to but we preferred to stand. Binoculars and cameras ready. Just after sunrise the men on the ground released the ropes and we were floating! A great sensation. We floated over a kraal of mud huts. Animals and people were just starting to stir. We heard a rooster crow. It was utterly quiet except for some animal sounds and then the burner would come on. It was very loud; it frightened the animals and they ran. We saw wildebeest in full gallop, giraffes loping in their curious gait, elephants, zebras, lion and cubs, dik dik, topi, eland, warthogs and hyena. It was a great show and far exceeded our hopes and expectations. We were very fortunate to see that many animals.
We were in the balloon for almost an hour and besides the animals, we saw a vehicle driving through the bush below us. It was the crew bringing breakfast to us!
All too soon it was over and we landed with a gentle bump…bump…and bump with the basket on its side. All of us were hanging on to the handles. Those on the other side crawled out, we were on our backs so we wiggled out.
The crew was already preparing a gourmet breakfast there in the bush. They set up a stove and tables with white tablecloths. Omelets made to order; ham, sausage, and a variety of rolls. Champagne or juice, tea and coffee. A real feast in the bush. One of our outstanding memories!
Several Maasai teenagers had walked miles from their village, following our balloon, to sell us their home made wares. In bargaining with them, a small mirror from G.C. would cinch the deal. One man took off his shirt and traded it for a knob berry (primitive weapon).
SWIMMING POOL
We were driven back to our camp and we had the rest of the day to rest and relax. In the afternoon we decided to go swimming in the beautiful new pool. Al put his foot on the first step, slipped and fell kersplash into the water. He scraped his right arm from wrist to elbow on the rough concrete. His arm looked terrible, all raw and bleeding. A lady brought some gauze and tape and wrapped it for him. I had nothing but little band aids. I swam for awhile in the refreshing water, then sat with Al to keep him company. (The staff there at the camp provided better bandaging.)
Our last morning, after breakfast we had a nice, leisurely time on our little porch watching the hippos. There were about a dozen nesting together, occasionally rousing to snort or yawn. They did other things, too, to mark their territory. A nice wind down for our memorable safari.
The rough ride back to Nairobi wasn’t too bad. We had a brief stop at Karen Blixen’s home and museum (“Out of Africa” movie) Then Charles took us to a bona fide shop where they had carvings of all sizes. The prices were marked with no bargaining. Jim and Betty found a rather tall giraffe and we bought one about 3 ft. tall. It was well wrapped for the long journey home.
At the airport our boarding passes said seats 4 J & K which seemed unusual. To our delight we found our seats in business class! No idea why. Ah, what luxury! Big wide seats that reclined - with footrests. Al watched a movie and I slept for 5 hours.
I hand carried the giraffe all the way from Nairobi to Amsterdam to Chicago to St. Louis and home. The giraffe made it and now stands tall in our living room as a wonderful memory of our Africa safari. The kudu also made it home safely. We cut up a milk carton to protect his horns.
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