Queen Elizabeth

Alternate Title: Hippophobia

Well I have to admit that we were all really sad to leave Queen Elizabeth's city behind. London had so much to offer and there was still so much to do. However we may have made up for it this past weekend when we visited the other Queen Elizabeth (National Park). We started out around 10AM, had lunch at the Equator, drove into winter as the kids called it, and saw more sights in that 7 hours than we could even begin to describe!

Even before we hit the park, we saw someone with a camel walking down the street, drove into Lake Mburo National Park and didn't need to pay the park fee because we saw all the animals on the side of the road - warthogs, zebras, deer-like creatures, 2 crested cranes! It was amazing. Once back on the main road, we spotted zebra and goats grazing along the side like they always do.....Finally arrived at Jacana Lodge after a night in Mbarara. Jacana Lodge is an eco lodge on the edge of a crater lake (I suggest googling it to see how beautiful it was). We were welcomed with a 4 course meal for LUNCH! And thought we should work it off with a guided nature walk through the park. We didn't see any bush buffalos (Simon was really hoping the guard had to use his gun), but it was a nice walk regardless. Back at the lodge, we (what else) swam, followed by another 4 course meal, followed by a food coma.

Wake up was at 6 AM so we could get into the main park for a game drive. Obviously the animals are most active early in the morning before the heat starts, so off we went with our packed lunch (yum again!). First animal we saw? A LION! Of course he was sleeping without a care in the world and stretched and yawned without a care in the world. We drove around and saw more deer like creatures than we could count, always in search of those elusive elephants. We also booked a cruise on Lake George to view the hippos and water buffalo up close (more on that later....). As we were driving to the resort to book the boat, I looked over a cliff and saw a herd of elephants walking along the edge of another crater lake - amazing! We tried to find a way closer but no go - at least we saw them - right? Just wait......

The boat cruise was in a pontoon boat - we had a guide and a driver. We headed to the opposite shore where there was a big herd of water buffalo and hippos - apparently the lake has about 5000 in total!!! We were able to get close - saw a couple of crocodiles lounging about (apparently they are vegetarian along with the hippos). But I guess we got a little too close to one particular hippo. 'It' was standing on the shore and took two steps, and basically yelled us. I jumped, screamed, cried, who knows! It was terrifying! The guide and driver laughed at me (come to think of it so did my family) and then the kids came up with the phrase 'Mommy has hippophobia' and they made sure they pointed out each and every hippo we saw (did I mention the number 5000?!?!). Just so you know - hippos are not cute and look incredibly mean and menacing. Especially up close. Especially the ones with babies. They have incredibly big jaws and huge teeth. Huge.

Going up the channel into Lake Albert, we struck gold. Nine elephants! The first group of 4 were playing in the water. Absolutely magnificant! We got pretty close - almost too close for my liking following my near death experience with the hippo - but I put my faith in our guides that they knew what they were doing. There were lizards and monkeys and birds too. All pretty cool. We ate our lunch and headed home. We were told there were more lion sightings, but by the time we got there they must have headed into the bush. We were tired and it was time - you guessed it - to swim!!!

Our lodge also had it's own share of wildlife - as I was at our cabin changing, I heard this huge pounding on the deck. I looked out our screen-only window - and a family of baboons was 'playing' on it and sitting at the front door!

Another amazing meal and we all passed out pretty early. The ride home was uneventful - we took a different route lined with tea planatations and made it home in time to watch the Netherlands game. All in all a good weekend.

Today I found a grocery store that sells diet pepsi by the case. A small thing, but a good thing.

And a final note, I keep forgetting to mention our travelling companion, Kirsten. She is the daughter of friends - I first met her when she was 7 and now she is old enough to make me feel really old. Anyway, she has come to volunteer at an orphanage. She is great, the kids love her (we really can't go anywhere without verifying that Kirsten is coming too) and she seems to be taking the crazies of our family in stride.

That's it for now - because really - doesn't that sound like a lot?!?

Kampala, Day 5

We are here.

Another uneventful trip - the kids slept great on the plane and wanted to go swimming the minute we landed at 7AM. The ride to Kampala takes about 40 minutes from the airport in Entebbe. I was interested in watching the kids reaction to everything. They were most fascinated with the cows, chickens and goats wondering the sides of the road. Simon thought it was garage sale day because of all the small shops that line the side of the road.

Since arriving at our apartment, we have gone swimming everyday, walked to the mall twice (Simon needed a fanta fix) and gone swimming some more. My good friend here has 2 boys and the kids have played with them as well as other kids they have been introduced too. Unfortunately my friend has left for Boston so they will be stuck with me for the next two weeks!

Tonight we are having dinner with the African side of our family, the Corry's. We got together the first night with them and Sophie just said - 'they are so welcoming' and since then has referred to them as her cousins and aunts and uncles. Tonight they get to meet Grandma!

I was interested in how the kids would react to the extreme poverty we have seen and how it is a totally different world from which we live. And they don't seemed phased at all - do they not get it? Are they too young? It is interesting and I look forward to seeing how they process the trip over time.

This weekend we are off to Queen Elizabeth National Park to go on safari.

I hope everyone is safe at home - I'm worried - first the giant jesus gets hit by lightening, then the earthquake and tornados - obviously the world is out of wack with us over here - hold on - we will be back soon!

I need a vacation.

Oh wait, I AM on vacation. Vacationing is exhausting. But I am not complaining. No I am not. I am actually happy that tonight we are staying in and watching the England vs Nigeria game.

We have had busy busy busy days. Of course we had to start with the double decker bus tour - the kids had a great time. We saw/hit all the high spots culminating with a ride on the Millenium Wheel after a boat tour down the Thames. When we first started talking about this trip, Soph was adamant that she was going to ride The Eye. So she did. So we all did. Having a fear of heights and closed in things, I was hesitant, but for my baby girl, I would do anything! And it really wasn't that bad.

I would post some pictures, but: a) I have no idea how to and b) Simon can't wait to surprise everyone with a slide show when we return. Simon renamed himself the pigeon pappararazi (I have no idea how to spell that word)- you can imagine how fun his pictures are! Both kids are having a great time taking their own pictures - we will have editing to do!

The next day, Wednesday, we rented a car and headed towards to Cantebury. Just a tip - don't print up pictures to go along with the google map directions. It doesn't work. Funny, a regular map is easier!! Anyway, we happened upon Hever Castle on the way. It was the childhood home of Ann Boelyn and then owned by the Waldorf Astor family. It was fun! They had 3 mazes, a castle tour and the most beautiful gardens.

Aftre a sometimes perilous drive on English country roads, we made it to Cantebury. We stayed at the Sun Hotel - a tavern from the 1500's that Dickens stayed at way back when. We had a great view of the Catherdral steeple and enjoyed walking around the church yesterday (except for Sophie who was majorly creeped out by all the dead bodies). The day ended (It's not over yet?!?) by the drive back to London and a peaceful picnic at Kensington Park. The kids frolicked in the Princess Diana Memorial fountain and crashed as soon as we got back.

Which FINALLY brings us to today. Eric had to work, so he dropped the kids and I off at the Globe Theatre. Sophie had read 2 books based on Shakespeare in school, so she really wanted to see the Theatre in person. We did a tour, checked out the museum and met back up with Eric. After a short tube ride (kids are free!) we ended up at Buckingham Palace. The flag was up, but we didn't see any heads peeking through the curtains.

So here we are - did I say I needed a vacation? We leave for Uganda tomorrow night. We're going to try to hit a couple of museums before we leave, but if we don't make it we will put it on the list for next time!!!

Kitchen sink

Well, I didn't pack that, but one would think I did. Because I think I did pack alot. But it didn't feel like it at the time. Honest.

I wish I had some great and wonderful story to tell about our flight, but really it was quite dull - the way I like it. Simon is an expert in plane safety and Sophie is the only person I know to actually use those little dixie cups in the lavatory for a drink.

My one and only lesson of the day: If I ask Eric if it's going to rain, and he says no, I should take our raincoats. Kensington Palace would have been much more fun dry. Luckily there was a MArks & Spencers close buy and we all got an umbrella.

We are tired. Can we go to bed at 2:58 EST?

Countdown Day -10

AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

If one more person tells me how many days I have left before we leave, I will scream. Seriously, I will. Do I need that added stress in my life TEN DAYS before we leave for Uganda? No. TEN DAYS! That is how many I have before we leave.

Really I think I am in control. Really. No really. The basement playroom is suitcase central. Suitcases which I am very happy with, and they really only took 3 days of obsessing before I was over them. And I think I have almost everything we need. Almost everything (including every piece of spf clothing I could find in the greater Cleveland area). Really, I do. Because other than 10 bottles of sunscreen, what more do I need? And is that even enough? Because we will be right on the Equator during the dry season! Why did I let people talk me out of buying the gallon jug?!?!?

Seriously, I know everything will be fine. I will over pack and think why did I bring this stuff? And I will come home just as pale skinned as I am now. And we will have an awesome time and the kids will love it and NEVER fight the whole time there. And Eric and I will never get stressed out and snap at each other and the memories will be lovely, oh so lovely.

But first....I have to pack. And I only have 10 days.