A Cool Vacation

Ah, Lushoto. We've heard the stories, and we had the chance to see the reality. It did not disappoint. This is an area of northern Tanzania, in the mountains. It's a bit close to Mt. Kilimanjaro (it's on the way), but still too far away to see it or anything.

After about 5 hours of driving NNW, we turned up a road, and started to go up, and up, and up. Our hot car started to cool off. Putting our hands out the windows, we could feel something we hadn't felt since last May, at least...cool air. We rose past rocky outcroppings that looked like they'd be at home in Arizona, into an alpine setting that looked more like the Alps (or how I'd picture the alps!). But maybe that was just the influence of the name of the place we stayed: the Swiss Farm Cottage. A whole week of temperatures no higher than 80 (and as low, maybe, as mid50s?) Sweatshirts and socks. And board games, a whole lot of board games.

Some of our highlights:

• Staying in a two family cabin with our friends, co-conspirators, and mission-mates, the Driesingas. Those kids are just too cute!
• Stepping outside to cool, fresh air and mountain scenery. And only a few drops of rain all week!
• The kids playing like mountain goats up and down the green grass and rocky outcroppings. They basically disappeared from 9 - 5 each day.
• Doing nothing. Lots of movies, games, and reading. 
• Also, spending time with our other friends who stayed in the other cabins. Tim probably played at least 30, maybe 40 board games during the week. He even felt...some satiated. Nah.
• A short drive and hike to a nice waterfall, which allowed for some nice climbing and scampering around rocks.
• The stars! Finally, we had the best ever glimpse of the African sky and it did not disappoint. Amazingly clear and bright stars in all directions, almost every night. A lot of tripping up stairs due to not being able to take our eyes off the heavens.
• Fires in the fireplace! At night, it was never "cold," but just comfortable enough to light a fire and enjoy the different temperatures of the outside breeze mingling with the roasting wood.

It was still Africa, with power issues, food of differing qualities (ordering the same thing from day to day was no guarantee of the same results. mostly, this was amusing and fun), digestive issues, communication barriers and things that didn't quite work. But it was exactly what we needed for a recharge and respite before we begin Term 2.