Leaving the Rainforest... Back to Kigali!

At this writing it has been almost 3 weeks since we have been to the Nyungwe National Forest.  What great memories of this place.... and the last day was to be no exception... even though it was just a short morning before we left.  

Bruce took this picture and I love it.  

Each morning for breakfast this was the scene that was set!

Looking back towards the cabins.

 The entry to the lodge and the lily pond

                  You can see the individual tea plants here.  These are young ones.

This is the pool we didn't use.

We took a long walk all around the property.
One side of the lodge....

and even the cabins set in the fields.

Jeannie, I took this picture for you.
This big fluffy pillow is made to look like
"tea leaves".  You would love it!

The other half of the lodge.

The WHOLE lodge all in one picture.  

    And then the sad part... this was shooting back at the whole place as we are departing.

Quite a setting!  Someone really had a vision when they built this place. 

                                 Getting further away but still in the fields.

            Some folks were really "in the fields"... but they weren't on vacation.  They were

working really hard.  Bent over at 90 degree angles, picking tea leaves and then carrying 

them all back to the truck on their heads.  

Folks work so hard here for everything they have.

You can see the huge bags of tea leaves here.  But others carry baskets full of leaves.

                         Back in the forest now... just about at the top!

                                      Shot this picture sideways so you could see

how steep the mountains descend.

           We had stopped to take pictures here and turned around 

and look who was watching us.  

We watched from afar for a bit but he was "eyeing" our open
car window... So Bruce went around to the drivers' side and closed the
windows. 

In the meantime, i took some close ups and moved a lot closer.

This wasn't this guys first photo shoot.   

He was very comfortable with people, obviously.

                                                     Isn't he sweet?

                             This was the backdrop from where we were parked.

He looked so sad that we didn't have any food to give him.  Nothing said we couldn't feed him..... so....

I remembered that we had some bananas
with us so I decided to take a chance and
see what would happen if i gave him one.

       He promptly peeled it....

and literally Sucked It In!   

I don't even think he chewed it. 

I

             
I love his face!  "WHAT IS THAT?"
It was when he sat up that we realized he
had one "hand or foot" that was missing.

He kept begging and begging for more...

It was his lucky day!  

He got another one.

And then reality hit him that he wouldn't get any more. 

         This is a L'Hoest Monkey and they are really sweet 

and obviously pretty tame for being in the wild.

It was a great ending to a great weekend as we left the Rainforest.  

Now... what will we find along the way driving home?
 Continuing through the forest...

And now...  looking back from where we'd come.

Bruce loved these 5 trees all in a line... Picture didn't quite capture it.

 Immediately upon leaving the forest, more and more people start lining
the streets.  And most of them are carrying tea leaf baskets... filled with
tea leaves.

The views are still great, though!

These guys were beside the car when the police
stopped to look at B's license.  They'd never seen an
international one before..we thought..  So while B was
"talking' with them...  I took pictures.

And you kids complain when you have to "pick up your room."
We gave these boys some water bottles and then
took off!  No ticket from the police. Whew... Weren't even sure
why they stopped us, actually. 

Check out this farming technique!

Approaching the refugee camp area.

Now this requires some explanation.  These folks are setting in concrete huge stones to make a deep, deep ditch lined with stones and concrete to handle the run-off of the mountain.  Can you see the pattern right behind the man in the blue shirt?  All the concrete is made by hand and all the labor is by hand, as well.  But when it is complete it will be beautiful, functional and able to last a long time!  

They haven't finished this end...  just getting started.

The camp up a lot closer.  From the distance they looked like
tents but actually they are small little homes.

Folks coming home from working in the fields all day.
Check out the one with the umbrella..  It isn't raining... but
she is protecting the baby on her back from the sun.

Some of the kids are herdsmen and shepherds.  

Some of the kids are babysitters... tending for their own
siblings or someone else's. 

But the adults have to keep the cows out of the road...Yes, a very nice road.. with cows, goats, pigs and other creatures.

A peaceful picture and a great closing shot of how we felt coming back into Kigali

after a great 3 day vacation.  It was a very memorable time with much beauty, interesting

people, and simply time to enjoy the incredible world around us.  There are beautiful spots all over the world and even in our own backyards that we don't take enough time to 

notice, but this place was gorgeous. We are preparing to head back to the States in 2 days... to winter... hmmm...

That will be a real change for us after enjoying this great weather here in Rwanda... but 

we are equally glad to get back to see our family and friends!  And just in case you are wondering...  No,  I do not carry things on my head yet.... even though Bruce thinks I should be learning how to do so!  See most of you soon!

Love and hugs, 

margie