Our first full day in Kisumu started with going to church that was not far from our hotel. Everyone was so very friendly, which is something many US churches need to learn. Many came up and shook our hands and said welcome. This is a common practice by everyone. The common greeting is Jumbo which means hello. Some, especially in the villages, will slap your hand like giving five and then shake your hand and say Jumbo. The children are more timid and gently take your hand.

After chruch we went to the Tapilia Beach one of Michael's favorite places to get fish. There really is no beach but a rocky area that goes to the water, Lake Victoria. Where we were sitting used to be under water about 15 years ago or so and the shoreline is continuing to recede. This is due to a plant that comes and fills the lake to the point where one could almost walk across them. They have tried many types of solutions but with no results.

We are all sittiing around the table, about 10-12 of us and it is explained to us new people that we are to eat with our fingers. We are having talapia wet and dry with ugali. So what does that mean? The wet fish has a sauce that is called soup here. The dry is fried fish with no soup. Ugali is made by boiling water over 100 degrees and add maze flour until it becomes very stiff. What you do is pinch off some ugali, dunk it in the soup, grab a pinch of fish and eat. I strongly suggest the wet fish. It is more moist and has vegetables on top of it.

Our next stop was a little ways away to the Kit Mikayi rocks. There are many theories about how the rocks came to be. One is that Lake Victoria used to be that high and receeded exposing the rocks. Another is they where a mountain and they have erroded to the present state. We climbed up on the rocks but didn't make it all the way because the weather was turning and rain was on the way.

We met the local village people there and one in particular would have a good career in business. Her name was Rebecca. She was very good at making you feel very special by saying she has been waiting for you and she was so glad you had come. She told you about her schooling and then the zinger came with asking for money to pay school fees. She was good.

Sorry for the delay in pictures and movies but we are having difficulties getting them on.

Sweet dreams.