%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
 |  My random thoughts and reactions to my everyday life. The voices like a forum. |
| I do not know quite what happened or when , but my hubby and I now qualify for seniors' discounts at some venues. This creates a quandary; in order to save money, but not face, we have to admit to our age. HMMMM..... We definitely do not consider ourselves to be old. In this day and age ,when people as a whole are living longer and healthier lives why are 'young seniors', those in their fifties, like moi, considered 'old'?? It's so true that age is just a perception! "Maturity" is very objective/subjective, and I object! Whew, a few years have skittered by since I composed this biography block. Those "fifties" are in the rear view mirror and they are distant, fond memories. Oh, I do not plan to stop writing any time soon. |
| Day 17 Arusha, Tanzania What a fantastic, original way to greet the new day! At dawn, we gathered in a Serengeti field to witness the awakening of the immense hot air balloons. They stretched and languidly stood upright revealing their bright colours. They billowed and tugged at their anchors, eager to be released. I sipped hot tea as I watched the preparations . The air buzzed with anticipation and I chatted with several fellow adventurers. When at long last we were ready to begin our flights, the smiling crew assisted us to climb into the baskets. We all wore expectant grins and no one dared to blink as the balloons rose into the sky with whooshes and roars. Our ascent felt smooth and effortless. We soared. We glided. We floated. Oh, the sunrise exploded across the sky in an immense burst of gold. Many of us gasped in wonder. Soon we were pointing and staring at the lush green plains below us. Herds of elephants lumbered as one mass. Distinctive zebra kicked up their hooves. Lions stretched out on rocky outcrops. Giraffe trotted about and cavorted. Rhino splashed. Leopards raced. We were suspended in the best aerial seats watching a wildlife theatre in the Serengeti. Now, this is the ultimate safari. Already full of awe, we alit next to a clearing set with tables and chairs for our bush breakie. Pleasantly surprised, I noticed china, glassware, tablecloths, cloth napkins and silverware. This would be unlike any camp meal I'd experienced. There were even friendly attentive servers. All of this in the Serengeti bush? WOW! I returned to the Arusha Serena Hotel and Resort Spa feeling sated. My eyes and stomach had feasted well. I set out to explore this piece of paradise set in a "traditional coffee estate in the majestic environs of snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro." I strolled through the lush, gorgeous garden overlooking Lake Duluti. Delighted I espied beautiful birds, the African Green Pigeon and the Silver-Cheeked Hornbill. Wishing to sit, relax, and absorb the scenery, I ensconced myself on a terrace and ordered coffee. This is a wondrous setting for quiet contemplation. |
| Day 16 ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA Huh, I like the name of today's hotel, Golden Tulip Addis Ababa. It's different. I had no time to admire or explore it. Our whirlwind tour awaited. Once again, my fellow bloggers and I took to the sky for a short flight to a World Heritage Site in Lalibela. We wandered and climbed amongst the hand carved stone churches created at the behest of a King Lalibela in the twelfth century. I cannot fathom the skill and strength required to create these churches from solid rock. Arches, steps, religious figures and crosses were all hand hewn in a manner that today would be attempted by excavating equipment. Supposedly the King wished to recreate Jerusalem in Ethiopia. Even the nearby river is named Jordan. This site is a testament to human ingenuity. I wonder how many feet have traversed these steps and contributed to their smoothness? How many voices have echoed in the chambers? After our religious reflections, we opted to partake of a secular refreshment. We traipsed with a guide to three different 'tellabet" or beer houses in the nearby village. "Tella" or beer is a local drinking staple brewed in the homes of residents. This beer is fermented in whatever containers can be found such as cans and pots. It is not strained and free of sediment, but this adds to its authentic flavour. Each brew has its own unique tang and each host/hostess smilingly offers us a sample. They are hospitable. I notice the shared cups or tins are not cleansed well after use , but this is part of the charm. On unsteady wobbly legs we re-board our return flight to the hotel. We may have snoozed / snored briefly. We opt to dine at the hotel's restaurant named Spice mainly because it's located on the ground floor and easy to access after our 'busy' day. Many of us order coffee and it's rich and flavourful. With a second wind, we natter and relax. |
Day 15 Cairo, Egypt Once again I am amazed by the accommodations A Warped Witch I Be  has arranged for us. All I can repeat is wow. The Heliopolis Towers Hotel is luxurious and grand with its sunlit grand atrium , its lush gardens, its enormous palm trees, not one but two pools and eighteen restaurants. Virtual travel has its perks. So, today we embarked upon an eight-hour tour in the desert. The brilliant blue sky, the unrelenting heat, and the swirling sand made an indelible impression. People actually toiled here thousands of years ago to build pyramids. Did they contend with this blistering sun and the relentless sand? Of course, I've seen photos of pyramids, but nothing compares to standing next to one and craning your neck to take in its size. They appear to be so solid, so immoveable. We tramped around three today known as the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Pyramid Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of Menkaure. Its no surprise they are considered one of the original seven wonders of the world. Monuments or tombs they are testimony to the determination of man. Look at what I can erect with envy and awe. The Great Sphinx is also impressive set against the desert backdrop. Is it a silent sentinel? It does not compare to the stone or plaster statuary some home owners display at their properties in suburbia. This behemoth required skill and muscle to raise, not a generic mold. When in Egypt why not attempt to ride atop a camel, a desert ship. Would it be similar to bouncing around on a horse, a very tall horse? First a handler cajoled my hairy, knobby-kneed, long-lashed conveyance to kneel. I witnessed reluctance, attitude, and bawking... from both of us. Could this clumsy-looking beast carry me? We eyeballed each other before I rose into the air grasping at a worn pommel. I liked the superior vantage point. The camel's gait could best be described as sedate, a casual saunter. I swayed atop its back, but I had no delusions I steered or coerced its progress in any way. I giggled imagining playing polo from this height. What do you call a camel with no hump? HUMPHREY. I bid 'my' placid camel and its equally solemn handler "salam alekum", Arabic for both hello and goodbye. I loved the Khan el Khalili bazaar. It hummed, bustled, and throbbed with chatter, shouts, and laughter. It vibrated and shimmered with a rainbow of colours. Metals glistened and gleamed. A Warped Witch I Be Apondia  WakeUpAndLive~gummy worms BOO  💙 Carly: Joan Watson  Prosperous Snow celebrating  BlueMoon  and I opted to sit and people watch while we submitted to the application of henna tattoos. There's nothing like smuggling Egyptian art openly on your hands. We sat and caught our breath at a coffeehouse where we admired the roaming cats. I could not resist the gorgeous swaths of jewel-toned fabrics and I impulsively purchased several yards for my intrepid daughter. I can't wait to see what she'll fashion from them. Back at the hotel, we resorted to a good old-fashioned coin toss to choose a restaurant. Japanese cuisine won. Everything tastes wonderful after a full day of exploration. |
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