After confusing line-ups at the Kigali International Airport (which is about the size of a McDonalds with 2 stories) our VISA's for the country and acceptance letter let us past security and with the keen eyes of colourful Helen Upperton catching the 2 bags with Canadian flags on them and one hockey bag (which belonged to guess who) we were out the gate and greeted by a large black man that acted as if we were reunited bestfriends! Also known as Fred our Right To Play volunteer representative driver for the week.
It is amazing that even climbing from an airbus onto the runways can give you such an overwhelming sence of how far you are from home, the trees are beautiful even in the darkness of night and the hilly torain serves for beautiful light shows covering the mountains, topped with largely lit hotels and office buildings overlooking the valleys. The people seem so nice, but once in the truck on the way to our hotel you could see the precausions that are taken in a country like this, even with the hospitality you may see everyday. The streets are guarded every kilometer or so by military men armed with AK's, everything is under lock and key it seems and even though the streets were alive with people on the communities down day (Sundays), the shops were still boarded up and there were looks over the shoulders for sure.
After a quick and bumpy ride to the hotel in which Helen enjoyed thoroughly due to a "motorcycle taxi" business, we unloaded and were taken to our respective rooms.
A very small hotel called "Inside Africa" where we are the only residents and the people are as accomidating as anything, offering us sealed water bottles and breakfast in the morning before we start a long day.
The hotel itself sits on the edge of a hill it seems, looking out over a valley caked with lights from the homes below that line the hill side.
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| The hotel overlooking the hills covered in lights in Kigali City, Rwanda |
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| The 4 rooms we are in overlooking the hillside |
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| Beautiful rooms with hand crafter African art and a much needed bug net. It is amazing how simple it is to fall into a feeling of individuality when you travel so far away, maybe it is because this is the first trip I have taken where I really am alone, by myself, no family memebers, because realistically I am travelling with 1 aquaintance and 2 strangers, so I guess in a way that is un-nerving in a sence. On the planes out here it seemed that the closer and closer we got to Africa, the more and more I wanted to be home, the more I missed home and my horses and my pets and Mike, etc. But maybe its the fear that comes with a trip like this, knowing anything could happen anytime gives an illusion like there is a chance (no matter how 0.00000002% a chance) that you could not go home, which thanks to movies and books makes it seem so much worse then it is. All I can really do for now is be careful and stay with my travelling buddies, but even sitting and talking to the girls in the coolness of the Kigali night air, I thought 'I could be home, with Mike and Mack and Maverick and be laughing and joking around in the safety of my own home with those that love me' instead of here... with strangers who talk alot about how awesome they are and how this trip isn't a big deal cause they've been like EVERYWHERE in world so I'm a little left out on the conversations. The first night jitters right? I'll snap out of it when the trip starts tomorrow. But for now, I am going to take a t-3, crawl into a musqitoe netting bed, with my stuffed cow "lucky" (yes he came half way around the world, my own little taste of home) and wonder what the next week will bring, morning will rise beautiful and early, need some rest. Love you all. Cheers, ~a.grange~ |
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