Driving Across Zambia!

I boarded a plane back at SFO on 12/7. According to my watch, it's 12/22 now and here in Zambia I am 10 hours ahead. Last I wrote, we were a day shy of crossing the boarder into Zambia. Malawi was amazing and I will remember it as the warm country of thunder, lightening and rain. The most impressive was while I was in Chitimba when we were caught in between two storms.. it felt as though worlds were colliding. I imagine if that was the case, that was what it would have sounded like. What was more impressive was while that storms were colliding, my new friend Francisco fro Mexico City was sleeping in the chalet next door, snoring away. Amazing!! I told him about it during an evening chat under the African skies on the steps of our beach front chalets (bug infested ..don't be too jealous), he looked at me in all seriousness and says, "I still snore?" I fell to the floor laughing. It was almost as funny as him telling me about hipsters in Mexico City riding fixie bikes.. "You're in Mexico ..riding a fixie.. what's up with that?"

We've spent the last 3 days driving across the country of Zambia. Chitpata was the first town we stayed in since crossing the border. We stayed one night there and continued onto Lusaka. Lusaka is the first main city I have been to since out first days in Africa back at Dar Es Salaam. It's definitely a different scene.. instead of kids coming out to wave at you... we had kids lining the street curbs asking you for cigs. We shared our Lusaka Campsite with zebras, giraffes and these big elk buffalo looking things. A group of us went on a walk through the campgrounds to see what we can find.. the campground terrier dogs led the way. I was nervous that they would become lunch for some of the wildlife!! Towards the end of our walk, the funniest thing happened.. we came upon the buffalo elk looking animals stopped in our tracks afraid to proceed. I mean , they were huge!! The three terrier dogs on the other hand ran fearless towards them as if they were our protectors barking away.. one of them.. with three legs lost balance and slid across the road.. we all bent down in laughter. This morning, as we were leaving, they were terrorizing the zebras.


We arrived in Livingstone, Zambia this afternoon after what seemed to be the never ending bus ride. A few of us hung out in town for a bit and I do have to say.. it was refreshing to not be asked for money or to buy stuff. I might even start to miss the words. "I'll give you a good price." I do find myself thinking about a conversation we had back in Malawi with Hudson and the school master.. he mentioned that school was free for kids but that they had to buy their own uniforms and because of that.. not all kids go to school. They can't afford the uniforms.

Back to current.. Our campsite is next to the Zambezi River which should make for a beautiful sunset! Tomorrow, we cross the border to Zimbabwe and go to Victoria Falls! In a few days, this tour ends and the next chapter of my African Adventure awaits back in Lusaka, Zambia!