{a few days in arusha and preparing for my climb}

arusha

july 7-12, 2012

i had 5 days total to kill in arusha, 3 of which were completely on my own before i could check in to the hotel which was included as part of my kili climb trip. so after treating myself to a delicious breakfast at africafe (way better than the last week's worth of camp food), i settled in to a mini routine at the hotel impala. 

 

(yum!  i know it looks pretty basic, but this was the best thing ever that day)

 

since I'd just been camping for a week, the impala, which is maybe a mid-range hotel at best, felt like paradise. a shower, tv, and free wireless?  i'll take it.  since breakfast was included in my room rate (and because i'm cheap), i ate enough for probably 3 people every morning.  then i'd walk into town each day after breakfast, peruse around, pick up some passion fruit and avocados at the fruit stands on the side of the road, and would be back at the hotel by dark.  

 (my favorite treat in africa!)

while the hotel did have free wireless, the biggest challenge was finding a spot where the wireless actually worked.  i'm sure the other guests loved it when i parked myself on the floor just outside the 3rd floor elevator for a few hours each day and skyped with my family. luckily in africa, anything goes.  

   i also enjoyed catching up on the news with the free nairobi newspaper. my favorite "new" fact? please refer to the paragraph in the second column below:   

(per the US government, mermaids don't exist!)

after 3 days at the hotel impala, i didn't think things could get much better.  and then i checked in to the mount meru hotel just across town for 2 days of all inclusive luxury.  it was a 5 star hotel by both african and american standards and IT. WAS. AMAZING. though i grumbled a bit about the cost, it was completely worth it.  the first thing i did was give housekeeping every article of clothing that i had with me as laundry was included in my stay.  prior to this i'd only been able to wash my clothes in buckets, so you know my clothes were in need of some serious washing.  i also lounged by the pool (although arusha is really not that warm), used the work out room (which surprisingly did not have a treadmill), got a massage, ate amazing meals (i had a salad with LETTUCE(!) for the first time here), and drank diet coke.  such a treat.

 (my room. this picture does not do it justice.)

on the afternoon of the 11th, i met with Wilbert, my head guide for the kili climb, and the other 2 climbers (a father and daughter pair named jim and rachel), packed my duffel bag with my climbing gear, and took one last long, hot shower. the next day we were off to start climbing mount kilimanjaro!

 (early morning, july 12th.  ready to go!)