July 7, 2023 - Mara Eden Camp to Nairobi, Kenya

We were loaded and in the vehicle departing Mara Eden Camp by 7:20 this morning - in the rain. The dirt trails leading out of the camp were slick and rutted. We were slip-sliding and spinning. It was like driving on ice! I didn't even try to take a picture while we were making our way out of there because I was too busy praying we wouldn't get stuck! As we got closer to the gate, the rain stopped for a little while and we saw so many vehicles parked and wondered what they had spotted. We were thankful that we hadn't encountered this many tourist game drive vehicles yesterday!
It was almost 10 by the time we finally reached the gate from camp and Anthony went to get us checked out. Local women came to the vehicle trying to sell us some of their craft items.Once outside the gate, the road didn't improve and the rain started again.
We pulled over to allow one of the hot air balloon baskets to pass us. I told Tobey we have to come back because I didn't have a chance to take a balloon ride over any of the parks. Another thing to add to my bucket list!
We continued on to Nairobi with a stop along the way for lunch with a stop for our final look at the Rift Valley as we climbed out of it. The lookout view was from 7100' elevation but because of the rain and clouds, it's hard to describe!

The mountain road was two-lane and packed both directions with trucks and cars. Every time there we small breaks in traffic, everyone was passing anyone that was slower than them. It often felt like we were playing "chicken" before we pulled back into our lane!
Seven and one half hours and 175 miles later we were back in Nairobi! We stopped at the Kazuri Beads Centre and workshop for a short tour. Our guide, Beth, explained that the center started in 1975 to help single women and women from the slums to earn an income. Before COVID, they employed 340 women; now they have 55 women back to work. Part of the women work in a covered, but open-air room doing everything from molding the beads from clay which comes from Mount Kenya to painting, firing, quality control checks, and making the finished products.
Wendy modeled one of the beautiful bracelets. We both said it was too bad that neither of us really wears much jewelry because everything was so beautiful!


This woman had a good job today because the kiln is under a roof, but outside. She said appreciated the warmth today.
Some of the finished products.

The women gave us a cheerful sendoff before we left. https://youtu.be/yQ6C05E9EPA

After the bead center we headed back to the hotel for a couple hours before going to the Carnivore Restaurant. It was a huge restaurant which specializes in meat, meat, and meat. They come around to the tables and carve it onto your plates. If you have been to a Brazillian style restaurant you will know what I mean. Because the restaurant was so large, it was loud and we had trouble hearing the servers tell us what we were eating. Lots of choices - lamb, ostrich, crocodile, beef, chicken and who knows what else!

Yes, there was meat, meat, and more meat.

It was almost 10pm by the time we got back to the hotel, but we get to sleep in - yeah! Unfortunately, our flight tomorrow night isn't until 11:15 PM and we have to check out of our rooms by noon. It will be a long day hanging out at the hotel before our 7pm transfer to the airport. It has been an amazing trip and we will be going on to Germany before heading back to Colorado.