East Africa

Just left Juba, South Sudan yesterday after a week on the ground and am back in Nairobi, Kenya. 

Amazing changes in Juba since my last trip 2 yrs ago.  Lots of asphalt, street lights, cars, shops, restaurants.  Even dry cleaners!  Not at all like the first trip 5 yrs ago where there was nothing left after the war with the North.  First picture is the South Sudan Prison HQ team after one of our meetings in Juba.  The woman at the end is a UN advisor from Cameroon.  Great to see old friends.  Not so great was the failure of running water and WiFi in the hotel. 

Second picture is the carpet of jacaranda blossoms outside my hotel room in Nairobi (FAR nicer than that in Juba).  Massive trees full of these amazing violet blossoms.  Planning an outdoor lunch today at Talisman in the Karen area, just at the foot of the Ngong Hills.  Remember the movie "Out of Africa"?  The area is named for Karen Blixen, the author of the original autobiographical story written under her pen name of Isak Dinesen.  Her home is closeby, now a museum.  Her lover, Denys Finch Hatton (played by Robert Redford in the movie) is buried in the hills above, overlooking the Rift Valley.  He died in 1931 when his Gypsy Moth biplance crashed nearby.

Starting the homeward trek late tonight via a rainy, cold day in London.