We're in Kenya, and all is well!

Well, since we last checked in, we made it to Johannesburg, we met up with Natalie and went to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (which was just spectacular). There, we went to a crocodile farm, watched them feed (yikes!), and even had crocodile for dinner. We went on a sunset cruise on the Zambezi river (the one that feeds into Victoria Falls from above), and stayed in a gorgeous colonial style lodge. http://www.ilalalodge.com/

On our way back from Victoria Falls to Johannesburg (en route to Nairobi) our flight was cancelled and since we didn't want a South Africa visa as we didn't intend to stay, the immigration officers made us all temporary citizens of South Africa! Woohoo! Well, we only visited our new residence to be taken to a shwanky hotel in Jo-burg by Kenyan Airways and then back to the airport the next morning. But still, it was fun to be granted temporary citizenship.

We made is safely to Kenya and appear to be far removed from any of the local trouble. We've learned a lot about the factors that played into the volatile situation here, and of course, it's more international and political and instigated by the world chess tournament than we thought from the news we get fed in the US. Playing for oil and natural gas and coal, of course, which has been discovered in abundance in the countries surrounding Kenya, and the only safe access from the west to these places is none other than Kenya, thus the attempt to place a leader sympathetic to the desires of the west in power. Very interesting, saddening, but also inspiring, because the Kenya populace refused to bend to the will of the mostly British and American pressures, and have been rallying to stop the violence and to help those that were hurt throughout all the strife they've experienced here with sanctuary, food, clothing, and funds.

We're staying with my good friend Sally, who has a beautiful house amidst avocado and banana and papaya trees, and she and her daughter have made us feel exceptionally welcome and safe. We're on the outskirts of Nairobi, and can hear the cows and chickens and such of the nearby village communities, just down the way from our gated, manicured gorgeous lawns. It's like another world entirely and has not personally seen any of the destruction that has been going on for the last month since the election.

We're about to leave on Safari to Tanzania on Saturday and will very likely be out of communication for 10 days or thereabouts. So, don't worry about us - all is well! So far, Africa is amazing!

So far, we've already seen hippos, warthogs, monitor lizards, baboons, and crocodiles in the wild! We're about to see just about everything else in terms of wildlife this great continent has to offer, and you can be sure we'll have lots of pictures to share before long.

Next stop, Safari!!