Beautiful Rwanda

Around 1pm, Martin & I left for the mountains. I'm surprised at how clean everywhere is and lots of flowers in front of most houses along the way. There's even excellent paved roads with only one short 10km section with a few potholes. Martin tells me that the gov't that took over at after the genocide is really trying to turn this country around. Sure it's one of the most heavily populated countries in Africa for it's size but people are expected to volunteer once a month in improving their community. The countryside is very moutainous and lush green with terraced farm fields of banana, potato, sugar cane and other fruits and veggies. Most people make less than $300 a year so they don't have cars. All along the roadside people are walking with amazing amounts of weight carried on their heads. You see them carrying logs, or 50 lbs bags of potatos. Many of the women carry babies strapped to their backs and are dressed in beautiful brightly color fabrics. Most of the children are in school uniforms some as clean as could be while others are quite dirty dressed in rags. Martin says most of the people by used clothing in the markets so you see the odd hockey or football jersey or a t'shirt stating an american university. Many are barefoot. I can't get over the amount of children along the roads. Many are very young like 2 & 3 years olds that could easily dart into traffic but they seem to understand that they have to stay on the side of the road. Most wave and give you the biggest smile when you pass by. Due to the colder, wet climate, many of the children have runny noses.

Most of the houses are made of crude dirt bricks or sticks and cow dung walls with no running water or electricity and have dirt floors covered in woven mats. I'm impressed that for people this poor it's one of the few poor countries I've been too that the homes have the beauty of flowers in the gardens. We stop for pictures and lunch along the way and will stay just outside of Kinigi at Gorillas Nest Lodge for 3 nights surrounded by 5 extinct volcanos (Karisimbi 4507', Bisoke 3711', Sabyinyo 3674', Gahinga 3474', and Muhabura 4127'). I was really surprised to see that the Gorilla's Nest has a golf course but a bit rougher than we'd be used to.

It's wet and cold and I left most of my warmer clothes back in the extra suitcase stored at the Novotel so I dress in layers. The rooms are damp and the towels are damp and no t.v. so I bundle up to read in bed under the blankets.