The Three Musketeers - Our Guides!

With the hearts and determination of three lions on the hunt (if male lions actually hunted!), our three guides, Iddy, Ndash and Joe raced over washboard dirt roads in pursuit of animals in their native habitat. We held on for dear life, knowing that our risk to life and limb would be rewarded!

Iddy was our "Chief" and our Master of Ceremonies. Joe and Ndash complemented Iddy's outgoing personality with a somewhat quiter approach - providing valuable information about the sights and sounds of the Serengeti.

On to Kilimanjaro,Tanzania

After a day in Amsterdam that allowed us to adjust somewhat to the nine hour time change, and then a good night's sleep at the Radisson Hotel, our group departed The Netherlands on August 13, for the second leg of our journey, an eight and one half hour flight on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, from Schiphol Airport to the Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania.

Everyone in the group knew at least one other person, so we quickly established a sense of connectedness. "The Fortuitous Fifteen" brought a mix of interests and past travel experiences that made for good conversation each evening. There were seven individuals - Katharine, Anne, Mary, Peg, Maggie, Sharon and Jan; and four couples - Martin and Carol, John and Jeanne, Robert and Diana, and Larry and Bonnie.

When we arived in Tanzania, we were greeted at the airport by our lead guide Idrissah ("Iddy"), who sheperded the sleepy group onto a shuttle bus for the hour-long ride to our lodge in the city of Arusha. The lodge chef had prepared a delectable vegetable soup for a late evening snack, and then we were off to bed, enveloped in gauzy mosquito netting.......

Getting To Africa

The journey to and from Africa required TWO very long flights. Happily, on the way to Africa, we had a day and night to rest up and see a few of the sights in Amsterdam. Flying across time zones, we chased the night, but never really caught up. The Delta captain urged passengers to close the window coverings and create our own "night" during our 9 hour flight. I cheated a bit and opened the window shade long enough to take a photo of Greenland (top photo). We arrived in Amsterdam (second photo) about 8:30 AM, August 12, Amsterdam time / 11:30 PM, August 11, Portland time. It was a challenge to stay awake through the day, but we managed to remain in motion long enough to have lunch and then see some of the highlights of Amsterdam on a canal boat cruise (third photo). You might wonder how we decided on a trip to Africa. A photo of the "culprits" is included in this entry! (fourth photo) Good friends Jeanne and John Lloyd presented the opportunity of a lifetime!

After our afternoon siesta, we joined the whole group for introductions over wine and hors d'oeuvres. Then it was off to bed, in anticipation of our morning flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania.

Tanzanian Treasures

Once you have seen a lion pride on the hunt in the wild, the prospect of viewing big cats in the local zoo becomes unthinkable!

..........Okay, maybe we will have to be tough and sacrifice when little Arthur is big enough for a zoo outing!

There is so much to share (1400+ photographs), it will take the entire Fall to get thoughts and impressions transferred to the blog . For today, the photos above are a preview of things to come.

It's good to be home, with a changed perspective and a renewed appreciation for the richness we experienced halfway around the world, as well as the many gifts we enjoy here at home!