It’s Kili time! (That’s the motto for Kilimanjaro Beer) Tomorrow, I will initiate the climb to the roof of Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro. Standing at 5895m above sea level, it is the highest free-standing mountain in the world.
The cost is a bit shameful, at U$590. I will be climbing with Erik and his dad, an experienced marathon runner. There should be around 6-8 porters, a cook, an armed ranger, a guide and an assistant-guide so total staff of around 10 for a 3-person climb. The first day is a 4-hour climb, and 6 hours on the second and the third. On the fourth day, we will start climbing around midnight to catch the sunrise at Uhuru Peak, Kili’s summit. (Tuesday morning) We will then descend for about 7-8 hours for a total of around 15 hours of painful walk in a single day. The last day is a breeze, with a 4-5 hour descent to the gate. We cover 70km in total. I have no mountain climbing experience whatsoever, but I am committed to keep moving until I drop. I will make sure to update the blog upon my return on Wednesday night or Thursday morning at the latest.
Over the past three days, I have spent much time with a very nice French-speaking Swiss family, also living with Mr. Elias. The daughter, Olivia, has been volunteering in Tanzania for the last 6 months, with 3 months in Ngaramtoni and 3 months in Pangani, on the coast. The family was extremely kind to me, and it was truly difficult to say good-bye this morning. They run a hotel near Sian, in the south of Switzerland, right in the Swiss Alps. It’s called “Hotel des Vignes” and it sounds like a terrific place to stay if you’re in the area. You can reach them at hotel@desvignes.ch.
Merci encore pour votre amitié si vous lisez ce blog!
I thought Olivia was particularly charming … She speaks 4 languages, holds a bachelor degree in communications and possesses a fantastic personality. I am certain that she can achieve anything she sets her mind to. Can you imagine an Olivier and an Olivia dating? There would likely be much confusion! Maybe in another life… Meilleurs voeux Olivia!
I am getting daily reports for the traffic on this blog, and there has not been a single daily decrease since the beginning! Yesterday, there were 166 hits, with an average of just over 4 minutes per visit! Thank you once more for following my adventures!
Happy Canada Day!
Olivier
1 comment:
Quinn, there is time for work and there is time for play. We have launched the 10 businesses last week and we are giving them a few days to get going before the first assessment. All work and no play make Olivier a dull boy.
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