The Road To Nairobi

[see new album in the photo galleries and watch new video below]
It was only a half hour plane ride from Kisumu to Nairobi which went well, there was just the usual annoyances when you travel ‘light’ with two car seats but we arrived safe and sound. it took seemingly forever to go from the airport to the American embassy where we still had to finish our country check-in.

The roads in Nairobi are interesting. No traffic lights. Just these enormous roundabouts. The roads were narrow and were bordered by the tall security walls of individual homes so you really don’t see much except vegetation and wall as you go through town. Streets are very twisty turny too so it was hard to get a perspective on where you were, seemed like we were perpetually going in circles to me until we actually arrived some place.

The embassy is new of course and really very nice, all the comforts of home. One odd thing though, every floor looked exactly like all the other floors so you had to double check where you were, but maybe that’s just government buildings for you. We had to run around, up and down for a few hours to work our way through the checklist in order to finish our check-in and with the kids in tow it wasn’t so fun. By the end we were pretty fried and Kayla still had to go to the CDC Nairobi to work in the afternoon. We hired a driver to be available for the weekend and we met her at the embassy. Her name is Freda. A very nice woman who upon arriving with me and the kids at the house we were staying at had to show me this 44 magnum pistol she kept in her trunk. At first I was like ‘what the heck!’ and the little hairs on the back of my neck stood up but then I thought, ya know, this is Nairobi, carjacking, robberies, I need to get over it and just feel better protected. But it does sort of wake you and makes you recharge the battery on your New York awareness.

Friday is the day to go to the Village Market in Nairobi. Oh, you’re thinking some quaint and rustic shopping? Nope, it’s a shopping mall alright but it’s as modern as any in the U.S., except for the Masai Market section on Fridays. Which is a half acre of souvenir vendors!! I took one look at this and called Kayla on the cell to say that after today we were not allowed to come back. All sorts of figurines, sculptures, beads, masks, spears, anything you can think of here in one place. You really had to hunt for the quality stuff but I saw some real gems. I am glad now that we don’t live in Nairobi or Kayla and I would go broke buying all these crafts. There will be plenty of time later I suppose.

Later on Friday I found out that when Kayla was in the taxi (with Freda our driver) the car was in an accident. Now normally that’s not big frontpage news right? But here, when even a car gets a little scratch there is a lot of shouting and rowdy crowds form and it can be a little scary. And, as it turned out Kayla hadn’t edited her briefcase so she was still carrying all our passports, money, and other valuables with her! So when the shouting began and the crowds started to form in this busy roundabout she understandably became nervous. She immediately called the security service the state department employ’s (that is what we are told to do when something like this happens) and they took good care of her. Nice to know it all works like they said it would.

Saturday was a fun day. First we went to the Nairobi State Park for a special viewing. Everyday at 11am they feed the baby elephants and a baby rhino (see video and photos) it was great fun. And you are right up close with them. One woman told me that when she was there and talking to her friend and not paying attention she was goosed by an elephant trunk! Next we drove a short way to the Langata sancturary where you can actually feed giraffes! It was so cool! (see photos and video) it was a little intimidating being so close to such an enormous animal but they are really very gentle.

Sunday was pool day. We went to the new American compound which resembles a typical Florida style gated community but with more serious security. It was like stepping back to the U.S. for a minute; great pool; a real playground. American foods. Even a ‘moral’ store where you can buy all sorts of American items.