Another Week in Moshi Another day

It was Valentine's day in Moshi yesterday and the country was awash with cards at your fingertips.  If you are careful and buy your cards at the local shops, they cost about $.50, unless you buy the giant one that I found for John that was actually about $1.25.  They are almost all very loving and not suitable for friends, work mates or acquaintances...even children, but they are most flowery.  John and I had a lovely dinner (not great food) but nice to go out and share our cards and reminisce about all the Valentine's days we have spent here in Moshi.  Since 2006 I think.

After our week in Rwanda nothing can quite compare, but we had a lovely hash up at Bob's house in Machame, and while everyone was doing the hard walk, my dear friend Sylvie and I walked all around the neighborhood, "shaking" all the women who greeted us heartily and then asked for pesa (money).  It was fun and we enjoyed the talking and the beauty (with still no rain) of the day. 

I am afraid we probably gave away the last turn (the last big X) as we had just come up the road the way the flour turned.  But, we had a nice time and it was a really nice group of folks.  The beer was fabulous and Bob brought out his cigars.  But nothing can quite compare with our pastor Tony's fabulous hash outfit.

Tony in high fashion

Now in fairness to Tony, he is a Scotsman and each piece of clothing had some variation of some plaid, just all different ones.  He reported that he had gotten this fantastic outfit at Peace Park which is the local market for second hand clothes.  And he loves each article.  He was actually surprised to look down and see all the different color combinations.  And nothing like a Kibo Gold at the end of a hot day.  We chatted about my clan, the Campbells's and how wild and warlike they were...but how he lived in the midst of them.  No wonder I am hotheaded. We all love our Tony--a great pastor.  Anyone who missed his sermon las Sunday morning for the children, missed a great story, and I tell you, when he retires from pastoring he would be a great children's writer.

As I sat in Bob's backyard, it suddenly occurred to me why he has such great bird pictures.  The back yard is a haven for birds.  The weavers are not at their little homes right now, but the nests are fantastic, and the sounds of the birds were all around.  I watched sunbirds zipping to and fro and felt extraordinarily jealous.  (I am often jealous of Bob, but seeing these fantastic birds only increased the feeling.)

You can just barely see the young man taking a picture of the Kili sunset from our road, but he is there, and the sunset with no extra snow highlights the shrinking glaciers.  Even then, it was a lovely. sunset.

And here we are with Kili in the sunset full form.  Pole snow and ice.  It is nearly gone.  Who is the new US EPA appointee?  He should come to visit shouldn't he.

The rest of this week will be filled with visits to Machame with my dear friend Sylvie, Pizza and a movie at the mountain club, more fast swimming (as fast as possible) and hopefully a quiet weekend before the last 10 days of our trip.  Gracious.  The time has gone ever so fast.