Kenya

It's been more than 50 years since I have been to East Africa. This time I am fortunate to visit friends from Columbia Business School. Marco and Nari and I were part of a study group that was formed for us when we were taking Intro Accounting (nicknamed Baby Accounting) in 1989. We are missing a fourth member, Oscar, who was not able to get away from his business dealings in Panama. Marco came from Guatemala. Nari was originally from India. (Oscar was from Panama.) Our lives all went their separate ways, but they have crossed over the years and we have stayed in touch.

Here are the characters:

Nari and Marco decided to dress as Masai warriors since we are going on a safari to a Masai reserve.

Nari, Fierce Masai Warrior

Marco, Who May Look Friendly

But I am getting ahead of myself.

The trip to Kenya may be measured in miles. It can also be measured in hours of trip duration and, perhaps most importantly, years traversed from 1989.

Let's overlook this last measurement.

Here's the trip across time. A photo from Paris just before boarding the plane for Nairobi:

From an overnight flight from Boston to Paris, then a morning flight from Paris to Nairobi, the way opens to the south. This leg is about 8 hours.

Across southern Europe and the Mediterranean, over Egypt and the Red Sea:

Threading our way past Yemen and Somalia to our east and the Sudan to our west towards East Africa and Nairobi (NBO), near the Equator.

Of course, the trip had its hardships.

Capuccino and Strawberry Ice Cream.

And to finally arrive at Marco and Henny's home in Nairobi. Henny is the ambassador to Kenya from the EU. So we have to stay at diplomatic headquarters. Here's the view from in front of their guest cottage where I am forced to stay.

We may eat simply, but we eat in style on EU china.

Bon Appetit

Tomorrow we set off to the Masai Reserve for our safari.

Cheers,

Brio