It is only fair after several blogs by Mike that I take a turn. I am the one who narrated our trip from Cairo to Arusha so I will bring us “home” again. Domas dropped us off at the lodge and we asked him if he wanted to work tomorrow, his first of several days off, he could take us to Nairobi. He laughed as he often did on this journey, the laugh of “I know something you do not”. We said our goodbyes, got his address to send him some photos, and checked into the lodge.

The welcome melon juice is the best. We were all anxiously awaiting the french fries from a week ago. (Has it only been a week?!) We checked in and changed and headed to the pub. We played a game with Maggie throughout the trip that amused her and hopefully educated her a little too. I would ask her to name things…..name 5 colors, name 3 cities, name 4 things that are round, name 4 modes of transportation. She is 5 after all and should know how to travel between here and there. She did well once I defined mode and transportation…she named 10 different modes and was still going. So, as we played this game, she decided to play guess whose room key this is. The keys/chain were identical so it was a very unfair game. If she decided you were right you got to have a turn, if wrong her turn again. That morphed into hide the room keys. I should probably tell all of you non-parents that are thinking this kid must have been running around the pub that we were the only ones in there.

Snacks came and we munched on the delicious french fries and garlic dip. Doodlebug ate the green lettuce garnish. We discussed our favorite stories, listened to the stories Maggie would tell and hope she would skip the inaccurate animal identification that her Mom, Aunt, and Uncle failed miserably. Yes it was me that thought the stork looked like a penguin.

A black dog decided to roam over to Mike as Maggie took a potty break. When she came out she wanted to pet the dog as well. Dogs in third world countries are not treated well by adults and worse by children. They are non living entities in their minds. I called the dog over to me and he came happily, I let him get used to me before I attempted to touch him. I coached Maggie as to how to go about petting any dog. She listened and followed the directions; she slowly put her arm down so the dog could smell her. He got a little closer and growled. She pulled back her arm in alarm. She tried again a few times and she continued to be growled at. I explained how the dog must have been treated but she did not understand. The dog went back over to Mike, sat down and rolled over to have his belly rubbed. Maggie burst into tears and could not understand why the dog would not come to her but came to Mike and I. A couple entered the pub and felt bad for Maggie as well. She sobbed for a while, she was tired, as were we all.

We went back to our rooms and Mary and Maggie showered as Mike and I reorganized our luggage. By the time they were done it was time for supper so we headed down.

Oh I digress! This blog is about returning to Nairobi. So we asked Domas to drive us to Nairobi and he left laughing saying we shall see. Mary, the forever optimist, said we will see him tomorrow not another driver.

After breakfast: hotdogs and eggs, we headed to our rooms to collect our luggage and meet Domas at the car. I was so excited to think Mary was right and he was going to take us to Nairobi. Nope he was here to take us to the transport stop for Impala Shuttle.

So off we headed back to Tanzania border control, back through Kenya border control. Again Tanzania took forever but we learned to be more aggressive and shove our passports in the window even though we were third in line. Kenya was a breeze and we scooted by. The amusing part, which I wish I took a photo of, was Mary and her new friends. As we walked across the border she showed a slight interest in some bracelets for Maggie's friends. After we got stamped in Kenya she approached the woman who was haggling with her before. She bought a bunch of trinkets and next thing you know Mary has disappeared in the crowd of woman. Maggie, Mike and I were on the bus, and Maggie kept asking where is Mommy, I replied in the middle of all those women. Mary made a mad dash for the bus and quickly sat down near the windows away from the door. Women were leaning in the door, arms were in the windows, prices of trinkets were being yelled out. Imagine an ant that found a big piece of sugar. He is carrying it away and all of a sudden ten ants are trying to get it away from him. That is Mary with a wad of tshillings burning a hole in her pocket, and the natives trying to get it away from her.

So back on the road. We got to see donkeys, Maaasi, and men relieving themselves on the side of the road. The bus driver warned us to have on our seats belts so no adventure with the police.

We arrived well in advance of our flight and searched for lunch. We found a cafeteria that was selling nasty little pastries...I had 2 of them. We flew home Mary, Mike, and Maggie shared a row and I had one to myself. Unfortunately the lady in front of Mary was a little ripe and caused Mary to get a headache and almost toss her pastry. Luckily she got off in Sudan.

Sameh picked us up and brought us home. Shower, food and bed.