Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Animal Highlights (and Lowlights)



Everyone told me before my trip that seeing the mountain gorillas would be a highlight. I was having my doubts while scrambling up the side of a volcano, slipping in dark mud, and plucking nettles from my knees but the experience was more than worth it. I even enjoyed the difficult trek because the view was amazing.

At first the gorillas were mostly up in the trees but they came down as our group approached. We got to spend an hour watching them play and eat. Of course, the babies were the best part. They were extra cute and totally uncoordinated. “Charles”, the silverback and alpha male of the family was huge and lazy. It seems as though he is getting a head start for next Movember after being totally humiliated by Hinkewich in 2010.

Today Patty and I made the journey to Butare. The scenery was so beautiful and we even saw a rainbow in one of the valleys. I was pretty excited about Butare until about 7 minutes ago. Patty and I checked into the Credo Hotel and my room has a double bed, a real toilet that flushes, and a demonic amphibian. At first I thought the newt was just another Malarone hallucination. I was hoping it was really just a lizard so that it would have scales and not wet skin in case I stepped on it in the dark. Patty’s suggestion was to open my patio door (to let more of them in?). Do you see how its eyes glow? Pure evil. Good thing Sender doled out some Zopiclone before we left.

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