Volcanoes, markets and blue paint...

Just a brief update before heading off on safari early tomorrow morning.
As usual, I've had another very full and busy week. It was lovely to get Amy back after her week away with her parents. As it was her birthday last week, I baked her a banana cake which was presented to her after a meal out with the whole group.
Two main highlights this week: our daytrip on Thursday and work on the classrooms.

Mr Mashoto, our neighbour, began his teaching career in a Maasai school in the middle of nowhere. As he returns frequently, I asked if we might be able to come along too at some point. He and his friend (I feel dreadful, I can't remember his name, and he was so lovely!) organised a full day out for us, including a welcoming ceremony and tribal dance BUT we never got to the school...
We went by several Dalla Dallas, effectively travelling to the other side of Mount Meru. Part one of our day-trip was stopping at the foot of a hill with no explanation. "Today we climb" - ok then! Although it was not very tall, it turned out to be a dormant volcano called Kilimamoto. We puffed our way up and were greeted by the most enormous crater, which we scampered round. Mashoto looked liked a mountain goat, bizarrely dressed in his smart work clothes!
The plan was to wait at the bottom of the road for the next Dalla Dalla to take us to the Maasai village. We waited...and waited...and waited... After two hours, somebody came past and told us what was going on: law cannot extend into the rural parts of Africa, and so consequently no notice is taken of regulations. Dalla Dalla owners keep their vehicles on the road far beyond the point that is safe, and realised that they could charge whatever they wanted. Not so. Enraged Maasai would pull out their knives and sticks in objection to the extortionate fare, and when that didn't work, they came up with a new solution - a road block! Between us and the village, every Dalla Dalla was being stopped and passengers demanded to get off and say how much they had paid. If it was too much, they would have to wait by the side of the road until some kind soul offered them a lift, or walk all the way back to Ngaramtony (the nearest town). We had no choice but to do the same. I felt so sorry for the kids who'd prepared an elaborate welcome for us - perhaps we'll be able to go back.
The walk back to Ngaramtony was 5km on a dusty, rubbly road under construction in the blazing sun. Thankfully I had my 'lighter-than-air' walking boots that sped me on my way. Thursdays are market days, and so we were treated to be able to walk through the town that was entirely given over to people selling their goods. It was fantastic. There were sacks of grain, flower, tea leaves next to blankets with carrots piled in towers, next to a heap of pastic flip flops (the standard African footwear) and kangas (fabric ready sized to make clothing). As you walked through the little streets, you passed through smell after smell (tea leaves, spices, etc). It was well worth the walk! We got a legitimate Dalla Dalla home and went to our local bar for a thank you drink. A very memorable day.

We finished painting the outside of the classrooms yesterday (consequently I am drenched in paint that will only come off with kerosene!). It took roughly a day and a half to paint 3 walls 3/4 of the way up, as requested. Mr Mkosi was pretty insistent that it should be plain light blue, and as it is his school, we relinquished our grand artistic plans. It does, however, look very attractive and smart, so a good job done, methinks.

Right, must dash - internet time, you know! Next time I'll write, no doubt I will have tales of being ravished by lions or chased by cheetahs!

Lxxx