Our arrival in Africa

Wow!!! This is an incredible place and we feel so lucky to be here. The flight to Entebbe was great. We slept and watched movies and arrived feeling rested. We were greeted at the airport by our dear friends the Weiss', our guide Isaac, wearing a beautiful Abuyadaya kippah and our driver. We managed to fit all of our suitcases, plus the ten of us, and our three personal guides, in the van. To say that our trip to Mbale was an adventure does not even begin to describe it. After Zvi and Marc loaded up with Ugandan shillings, we began the journey. Our first destination was to see where the Israeli raid occurred back in 1976. It's amazing to see the actual spot where it happened and to be back here under such a different circumstance. Kampala was our next stop, for a "quick bite" before heading to our destination of Mbale. En route to Kampala, we were surrounded by noise, cars, activity, people on bikes, people on motorcycles, people running in front of cars, people strolling in front of the cars. It was a scene. One was a little too close and they hit the front of our van. We pulled over and after a quick negotiation and exchange of cash, we were on our way. Traffic was at a standstill and as we made our way through the center of Kampala's main market, it was part Disneyland, part an old movie, but all reality. We bounced around, playing cat and mouse with pedestrians for several hours. We hit several holes in the road, one that knocked off our spare tire. We finally arrived at an outdoor restaurant to grab some food. Nearly two hours later, and only after Isaac pushed, we were able to get the check and continue our journey. It was slow going out of Kampala and only slightly less slow going the rest of the way, still dodging people and animals. We saw goats, cows, chickens, roosters, some dead, some alive and one was thrown into the van as a gift from our driver's mother. Despite, the conditions just described and lots of bouncing around, some of us managed to sleep for part of the journey. We arrived in Mbale, a bustling village and regional center of East Uganda, 10 hours after we landed at Entebbe. It took us longer to get from Entebbe to Mbale than London to Uganda. We arrived at our "five star" Mbale Resort Hotel and define five star as flush toilets, hot water and internet access. (The rooms are small but comfortable, complete with sleeping mosquito nets. The surroundings are lush and green. The contrast between what we saw driving in and what we have at our hotel reminds us of how fortunate we are. When we're tired and grumpy we may be complaining but this morning, we are very appreciative and thankful.