Kenya: Part XI (Leaving Kenya)

[riontel]

This pretty much concludes my travelogue. We stayed in Nairobi for a few more days filled with parties, shopping, family visits and other boring routines that are only interesting to those involved. One occasion stands out, we went to some distant relatives' traditional wedding reception, walima. It was an exceedingly boring affair, even more so than these things usually are, but we managed to provide ourselves with an accidental entertainment. While the newlyweds were greeting friends and family at the reception line in the lobby I came up to N and made an observation in my usual tactful manner, "Bride is a bit on the hefty side, don't you think?" Horrified N turned to me revealing what turned out to be a video camera belonging to the groom. Set to record. Oops. Awkward. We couldn't figure out how to erase the last few minutes of the recording and had to delete the whole file for that day. No sooner than we were done, N's father walked up to us with his comment, "Bride looks very ... mature." Luckily the camera wasn't running. We are a polite and kind bunch, don't invite us anywhere.

The only other event of note happened as we were at the airport checking in for our flight to NY and going through first security check. N rummaged through his wallet and then looked at me helplessly, "I can't find my green card." Well, I distinctly recalled his father asking us right before we set off for the safari if we had anything to put in a lockable cabinet for safekeeping and N handing in his green card, despite my strenuous objections. I just knew we were all going to forget about it and, lo, we did. His folks dropped us off at the airport and were on their way back home. We called them in a panic. They managed to pick up the card and return with it five minutes before the check in was closed. Those who know me well are probably wondering at this point how is that I did not come back a widow.

We did get in, our bags had to be sent in as priority luggage to make it on time, but mere seventeen hours later, after a stopover in Zürich, we were back in the cold, still slightly wintry New York.

The trip was wonderful. Kenya is a beautiful country, with friendly people, great food and astonishing sights. If you ever get a chance to go, you must. We are already panning another trip :)

Part I: Arrival in Nairobi
Part II: Nairobi
Part III: Masai Mara
Part IV: Masai Mara
Part V: Masai Mara
Part VI: Lake Nakuru
Part VII: Sweetwaters
Part VIII: Mt. Kenya Safari Club
Part IX: Mombasa
Part X: Mombasa