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Monday, November 07, 2022
By E-n-E Travels
My 3rd Trip to Kenya is coming soon!
Day 2: We got up after a restless night of sleep at the very nice hotel - (bed was too stiff with a bad pillow for me, too fluffy, and 5 mosquitos buzzing, not a good combination!).
We enjoyed a nice English breakfast, sitting outside on the veranda. It was a nice warm day in Nairobi, before meeting up with Peter - our new driver friend.
Nakuru was our destination for one night. We had to travel up and over a mountain, driving 3+ hrs. It's a bustling city with people everywhere, (city status is actually a new upgrade from being a town!)
The ride was interesting to say the least, being in what would be the American driver's side front seat in the USA, but with no steering wheel - and driving in the left lane, makes it a bit daunting to say the least (I had to close my eyes about half the time!).
I've lived and drove in Sicily and visited India. In Sicily, they had a chaotic system for driving but you understood if you tried - a two lane road would become a 6 lane road with the fastest drivers flashing you to move out of the way and they never hesitate to pass you on a blind curve. CRAZY. I was used to that.
India was even crazier for driving and so much more congested with having to make sure not to hit a wandering cow crossing the road. I felt like it was more scary driving to Nakuru just because of driving on the other side!
We saw a very cool Michael Jackson bus and many UN trucks plus riders on motorcycles carrying way more than they should - the one in the video below was carrying about 20 or so jugs - filled with what? I had no idea.
Kenyan Driving - Sped up x2
Going through the mountain, we stopped at a shop - Eric got his picture taken with the shop owner and we purchase a couple of soapstone trinkets -
We were there to see
Bridget, who we consider family especially when she lived in VB. She worked for me for years in the studio as my right hand best helper - studio manager. I was very sad to lose her. I came to love her like family, we would do anything to help her, when needed!
She had been living in Kenya & working at
The Crown of Beauty school for women who have dire situations, women who have been widowed or abandoned, teaching them a skill such as sewing & baking, that they can use to make a living when they graduate!
It was eye opening and so admirable to see what they have accomplished!
We enjoyed lunch at the Blessings Bakery that they run, with a visit to the sewing school, located in one of the poorer areas of Nakuru.
Five student ladies, ranging from maybe 17 and up, were sewing away on a Singer foot pedaled machine. This sewing machine will be theirs to keep after 1 year, when they graduate. No need for electricity, giving them a way to provide for themselves and their family. What an opportunity for these women!
All of them live on the grounds, some with their children. I got to meet 3 yr. old Joshua! Adorable! All the other children were at school still. Bridget works and lives with her American friends from their church in Oklahoma who sponsors their missionary work in Africa. Janet & Jess welcomed Eric and I into their home and were our lovely hosts for the night!
I bought a few gifts to bring home, soapstone that I found at small shops going over the mountain and in Nakuru. Bridget took us to the local fabric market - where I picked out some bright colorful fabrics for the ladies at the school to make a few things to take home! They turned out wonderful and everyone I gifted them to has loved the handmade fabric bags.
We really enjoyed getting to know Janet and Jess, dinner was delicious and we had so many laughs playing UNO FLIP. They were great hosts. It made for a perfect ending to our night!
Perfect end to our 2nd day.