Animal Crackers...

Back in Nairobi...back to the traffic...back to the pollution...back to the over-crowding...back to the never-ending odor of burning garbage. For those of you who complain about traffic, you have absolutely no idea of what traffic really is! No such thing as staying in lane...cars zig and zag in and out of traffic lanes, move out into traffic with no regard for "right-of-way", and signal lights seem to have no meaning whatsoever. Our driver, Julius, is totally calm and collected about it, while I am sometimes gasping and hanging on for dear life, fully expecting a bus or car or truck to end up in my lap. But enough about traffic...

    

                 *          *          *          *          *          *          *

                                                                               

We went to the Baby Elephant rescue center today, which was an absolute delight! Because of ivory poaching, as well as because of the extreme drought here for about 3 years, many babies have been orphaned. When a baby elephant is found alone, or found next to a dead mother, the rangers rescue them and bring them to the center, where they are fed and cared for and kept for a couple of years, at which time they are slowly and gradually acclimated to become part of a herd once again in the Kenya National Park. Most of the elephants at the center right now are females, ranging in age from 4 months to nearly 2 years. The keepers are with them for 24 hours a day for the first year, until they can swallow solid food and during this entire year, they are bottle fed. While we were there, one of the more mischievous in the group overturned a water barrel, creating a muddy mess in which the whole group immediately rolled. What glorious fun they were having! Made me think of human children. And a good time was had by all.

             *          *          *          *          *          *

Then there was the giraffe center...with many, many, MANY people eager to feed them- some of them, I'm sad to say, very "ugly", rude Americans. After being pushed and shoved and jostled, I went down to the ground to enjoy the view from there, which was far more pleasant. I adore giraffes- such beauty and grace...and those long black tongues are just amazing! All in all, a lovely day.

And now it's almost time to head to bed...nearly 9:15 here, though for most of you it's early afternoon. Good night...tomorrow it's to the Masai market and the pre-school center once again.