I had a farm in Africa...

Anyone else picture Meryl Streep in crisply tailored linen and Robert Redford looking jaunty in rolled up sleeves and jodhpurs when they think of Africa? Anyone? Nobody? Fine.

One of these days, that is how I will travel Africa, with steamer trunks and elegant clothes and martinis on wide open verandas gazing into an uninterrupted sunset across the plains… [A girl can dream, can’t she?]

We literally landed, did a U-turn and came back down the single runway!

That is not the Africa I find myself in right now. The airport was tidy, but small, with earnest hand-lettered signs. “Please wait for baggage here” and “Way out” as though we couldn’t follow the dirt road, through what I’ve always thought of as a cattle fence into the waiting phalanx of run-down 80s model Toyotas waiting to taxi us into town.

The cattle fence was actually to the right of this building that we never actually entered

One such gentleman did take me to my guest house for KSh700. Let’s take a minute to discuss currency. Approximately 80KSh to $1, so less than 10 bucks for a taxi. Now for the bigger amazement, my small, but tidy and well-appointed room is costing me KSh 900/night. I’m thinking I can spare the extra $5 to upgrade to the larger double suite for KSh1300 to prevent myself from going stir crazy. Breakfast? 240! Bottle of soda? 35! Less than 50 cents. Okay, the math portion of the blog is now over for those of you getting a headache.

Tonight's room. I will likely upgrade tomorrow for more space

I met Beldina today, who will be my local guide for the time that I’m here. She holds a MPH and works for the Columbia Millenium Cities Initiative. She went on to explain that (similar to the airport) most businesses were closed for the referendum vote. She reassured me (and I now tell you) that thus far all is peaceful.

The sunset from the terrace of the guest house is pretty fantastic, if you block out all the buildings ;-) I’m actually contemplating renting a bike and riding around this weekend (during daylight hours, of course)

Sunset over Lake Victoria, at least the little piece of it I'll be getting to know

Tomorrow is a jet-lag day, so unless something amazing happens, likely no updates.

If any of you get random phone calls that start with 254 and have too many numbers, don’t screen my calls ;-)