31/03/2019: Back to Nairobi
This has been one of the quickest holidays ever. Each day has been full, either watching the animals or travelling the quite considerable distances between the parks.
So today we headed off to Nairobi. It was a six hour drive initially on very bumpy roads.
There are a few small towns along the way and Narok. The litter in the ditches is quite bad, mainly plastic bottles. The Kenyan government has banned all plastic bags and the fine for having one is quite stiff.
We are lunch outside another souvenir shop but this time did not buy as we had very little cash left.
As we approached Nairobi the traffic got heavier.
Joan is reading Kuki Gullman's biography "I dreamed of Africa" and by chance the first place she goes to when she arrives in Kenya is the Norfolk Hotel, where we just happened to be staying.
Security at the hotel was tight. In January, 21 people were killed when al-Shabab attacked a luxury hotel complex in Nairobi. We needed to get some money out of an ATM to tip George and the hotel security insisted they accompany us.
The Norfolk is Kenya's oldest hotel and we were upgraded to a suite overlooking the courtyard.
We decided to have a few drinks before dinner and sat out on the verandah. We could not help but hear the conversation of a woman behind talking very loudly to two potential business associates. She was boasting about which clubs she was in in London, her garden was the most attractive in Hampstead and she had access to inside information on a number of government school building contracts. It felt as if we had walked in on a scene from Hustle. What upset us was the way she spoke to the waiting staff. As one was serving us, she interrupted to complain about her wait for some drinks, telling her to "Chop, chop." Later she asked for some ice and said, "And don't tale thirty mnutues this time." Another couple with a young son told the waitress to bring their drinks to the restaurant "And don't bloody argue." Their behaviour was contemptible.
I guess we compensated by being extra polite and thankful to the lovely people who served us dinner.
The sun sets fast in Kenya but it was wonderful to be in such a beautiful garden. The food was exquisite and for once, no curried dishes! Sadly our holiday was all too soon drawing to a close.
So today we headed off to Nairobi. It was a six hour drive initially on very bumpy roads.
There are a few small towns along the way and Narok. The litter in the ditches is quite bad, mainly plastic bottles. The Kenyan government has banned all plastic bags and the fine for having one is quite stiff.
We are lunch outside another souvenir shop but this time did not buy as we had very little cash left.
As we approached Nairobi the traffic got heavier.
Joan is reading Kuki Gullman's biography "I dreamed of Africa" and by chance the first place she goes to when she arrives in Kenya is the Norfolk Hotel, where we just happened to be staying.
Security at the hotel was tight. In January, 21 people were killed when al-Shabab attacked a luxury hotel complex in Nairobi. We needed to get some money out of an ATM to tip George and the hotel security insisted they accompany us.
The Norfolk is Kenya's oldest hotel and we were upgraded to a suite overlooking the courtyard.
We decided to have a few drinks before dinner and sat out on the verandah. We could not help but hear the conversation of a woman behind talking very loudly to two potential business associates. She was boasting about which clubs she was in in London, her garden was the most attractive in Hampstead and she had access to inside information on a number of government school building contracts. It felt as if we had walked in on a scene from Hustle. What upset us was the way she spoke to the waiting staff. As one was serving us, she interrupted to complain about her wait for some drinks, telling her to "Chop, chop." Later she asked for some ice and said, "And don't tale thirty mnutues this time." Another couple with a young son told the waitress to bring their drinks to the restaurant "And don't bloody argue." Their behaviour was contemptible.
I guess we compensated by being extra polite and thankful to the lovely people who served us dinner.
The sun sets fast in Kenya but it was wonderful to be in such a beautiful garden. The food was exquisite and for once, no curried dishes! Sadly our holiday was all too soon drawing to a close.
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