It’s Sunday morning in Boston. We’re relaxing at Meagan’s parents’ place with some coffee and pastries. Tonight, we complete the return home to Seattle.
The trip has and honeymoon has been fantastic, but I must admit to being a bit homesick for friends, modern conveniences, good food, and my own bed, so it’s good to be back in some ways.
We’re on Zanzibar for another four nights. We’ve been here for five days but internet hasn’t been working. Such is life here, we haven’t missed it a lot.
Safari was fantastic, too much to tell right now - I have lots of pictures and words when I get back.
The last five nights we’ve been in Matemwe Beach, on the northeast part of the island. After days of being in a dusty vehicle hunting for leopards (figuratively, of course), we’ve done little here besides lounge by the poolside, drink passionfruit cocktails, swim a bit, and read a lot. I’ve tried teaching Meagan some water polo skills.
Today, we head to Stone Town for some urban adventure and then two more nights at a beach on the south part of the island.
Today we spent our third and final day in Moshi, again hanging out with Greg and checking out one of the projects he’s worked with, this time a vocational school outside of Moshi. Too many things to write about now, the highlights were helping them install soccer goals, meeting the wonderful Sister Clarissa, eating the best avocado I’ve ever had, being stuffed into a daladala (more on that when I get home) and being chauferred on a bicycle by a fifteen year old (four miles from the bus drop-off to the school). More on that later too - fortunately Meagan got a picture of it.
Tomorrow we’re off on safari, so incommunicado for about a week.
Meagan and I have been in Moshi, Tanzania for the last two days - it’s been an overwhelming blast so far. We’ve been tagging along with our friend Greg, who has spent two years here, and he’s been shepherding us from one project to another. Yesterday we checked out the town itself, including two local markets. Today, we visited a local hospital and stopped by a town called Himo outside of Moshi. It’s hard to pick a highlight so far, but hanging out at an outdoor bar with four folks that Greg used to work with would be up there. Great people here.
Tomorrow we’re off to visit a vocational school and help install some soccer nets and netball court, and then Saturday we’re off on Safari for a few days. I’ll write more about everything when we get home.
Meagan and I just arrived at our hotel in Moshi, Tanzania. It’s Tuesday night here. We left Boston Monday night (with a bit of a close call), transferred in Amsterdam, and now are in Africa. More details to come. Our friend Greg graciously met us at the airport and took us in a cab to our hotel. Things are great so far. We’re here until Saturday and then off to the Serengeti.
[Originally intendend to be posted on Friday afternoon (7/25)]
The days leading up to wedding weekend have been a blast.
The fun started on Tuesday night when I left Seattle after a furious packing effort (packing for both a wedding and an Africa trip is a bit challenging). One minor glitch was, of course, leaving my suit in the living room when the cab arrived. 1/3 of the way to the airport I realized my gaffe, had the cab turn around, retrieved the bag, then sweated for 20 minutes hoping I’d make the flight I was already cutting a little close. $72 and, fortunately, a slightly delayed flight later, I made it.
I arrived in Boston Wednesday morning. Meagan and I relaxed at her parents’ place and made an afternoon departure for Vermont. We checked into the Inn and settled in. In the evening, we drove through the pouring rain to St. Johnsbury, where we met most of the Valerios - my parents, brother, grandmother, and several aunts and uncles at Elements. The food was fantastic, but even better was spending time with family in the middle of Vermont. It promised to be the start of a great weekend.
Yesterday, we fought through jet lag and had breakfast at the Inn - we had a great kale and spinach omelet with a sweet potato hash and a cinnamon bun. Fred wouldn’t tell me how to make the sweet potato hash, but it’s something I’ll be trying to recreate. More of the Valerios dropped by the Inn on Thursday afternoon. Afterwards, Meagan, her mom, and I headed into town to run some errands, the first of which was to get our marriage license - it was good to get that minor detail out of the way. Afterwards, we loaded up on food, beer, wine, and liquor. When Meagan and her mom were pushing two shopping carts full of supplies from the liquor store, they prompted several “where are you guys going?” comments. Awesome.
After that, we headed to the recently reopened River Garden Cafe in East Burke for dinner. They were closed due to a flood several months ago. The food was delicious - Brian and I were both loving the sweet maple syrup balsamic vinaigrette. Last night’s dinner was just with our immediate families, and it was good to have a smaller gathering before the festivities start in earnest. After dinner, the rest of the Valerio crew joined us at our room, and we had some fun post-dinner festivities.
Today is Friday, we had another great breakfast (waffles with lemon butter and stewed apples today). Meagan and the mothers are off to have their nails done, and I am waiting for my brother, dad, and uncles to pick me up for a bike ride. The weather is finally clearing - it’s been raining since we arrived. Hopefully the sunshine will stay, but if not, I am sure it will be a good time…
Finishing packing, waiting for cab, heading east…great things await.
At last night’s Mariners/Red Sox game:
Start of a resurgent trend? Bring back the rat tail!
Oh, and, go Sox!
Emmett and crew posted the official review of Shanghai Garden on MSG150. Check it out…
