I once had a tent in Africa .........

For two days now I have tried to write my blog about our African trip. It has been hard to put down on paper (Microsoft word actually!) my thoughts and feelings about this trip. I am struggling to express all that is in me and have sat in front of the computer for hours trying to get my thoughts organized and writing random thoughts. I could just list all the people and places and show you great photos but a mere list and a couple of pictures wouldn’t do justice to such an amazing adventure.

On this trip, Jeff and I would travel to Nairobi, the Grumeti River, Ngorongoro Crater, Oldupai Gorge and Zanzibar. Somewhere in my preparation for this trip was a quote that went something like: the dust of Africa had settled on my heart. I can't remember where I read it and I would like to find the original quote again because somewhere along the bumpy roads of Tanzania (referred to as an African Massage!) I found that the some of that African dust had indeed found its way onto my heart.

I have walked away from this trip with a change in the way I viewed Africa. I never thought in terms of continent before- of a whole place. Granted, I only received a brief glimpse of a part of that continent (East Africa) but I think I saw the whole of Africa for a moment. On previous trips to Africa (two to Egypt and two to South Africa) I never thought in terms of the continent of Africa; Egypt and South Africa were just tourist destinations – great places to visit but I never felt like I was in my idea of Africa. Egypt and South Africa were just two different countries on a landmass called Africa. By the time I arrived in Zanzibar I knew something was different and I opened my eyes for the first time to Africa. I had touched the face of Africa. I saw an Africa that has yet to figure out what it wants to be and how to make it happen. And it needs to happen to the whole continent not just individual countries. The dust, filth, poverty and confusion makes you shake your head in disbelief. How can this be? You begin to understand Bob Geldorf's and Bono quest to help Africa (Madonna's less so!) I thought these celebrities were just being fashionable and self aggrandizing but I began to understand how they came to care about such a place and want to draw attention to the need for help. Africa feels like a bottomless pit of poverty that can never be filled in.

The amazing part of travel in Africa is how you look past the despair and begin also to see the wonderfulness. Giraffes loping across the plains of the Serengeti! Acacia Trees, sunsets, dhows, tall graceful Maasai wrapped in red blankets, secretary birds, monkeys carrying their babies on their backs and brainless gnu's trying to find their way.

Also, I now have to add Tanzanians to the list of the friendliest people on the planet (along with the Australians!). In the beginning Jeff and I thought the warm hospitality and friendliness was a put on for the tourist. It was also infectious (except for the time I almost punched a Spanish tourist!). In my cynical thinking I just couldn't imagine that it could be genuine. After meeting people like Didas, Reuben, Safari, Roger, Sarah and Mike, Jan and Linne; I know it to be very real and true. They were some of the people that would make this trip an amazing experience. Not because they served us but because they were of the place.

Venus, IBM & Wimbledon 2007

This past weekend Jeff and I were guests of IBM at Wimbledon. Thank you very much Big Blue! I am not much of a tennis follower except when it comes to July! I played when I was much younger, enjoyed it but just haven’t the inclination over the years to chase a small ball around a court! Too busy I guess. Wimbledon is very special though. There is something about this English traditional event that gets my heart and attention. I love going - the Pimm’s, strawberries & Cream and sitting in the stands at Center Court – rain or shine. What a wonderful time we would have!

On Friday night we had dinner at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant in Claridge’s hotel hosted by what seemed to be the Benelux/Dutch IBM contingent. Nice people! We did not have an encounter with Gordon but had a great meal that included a wonderful Artichoke Risotto! We spent the night at Chesterfields Hotel on Charles St. (off Berkley Square – pronounced Barkley for you Americans!). Silly I know – we were less than half a mile from our flat – but what the hell! What a little treasure this hotel is! The service was impeccable and the bar sublime! A real manly - man sort of place!

Early Saturday morning we boarded a coach from the hotel for the short trip to the hallowed grounds of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. The sun was actually shining and it was warm enough to need sun tan lotion! We were going to see some good tennis! I was anxious to cheer on fellow American Venus Williams in the Ladies Final.

Upon arrival we were installed in a hospitality room where champagne, Pimm’s and other little treats were served. A very nice Irish intern gave us our tickets to Center Court and we headed out to watch Roger Federer’s semi final match as he dismissed Richard Gasquet in three straight sets (to set up a rematch of last year's championship match with Nadal). It was a little weird - the center court with no roof on it. Apparently the roof is in Sheffield and will be back in 2009. Shockingly to those seated around us, we didn’t stay for the whole match because we were hungry. To me it was a forgone conclusion that Roger would win so we headed back to the hospitality room for lunch and watched the rest of the match on TV. I really wanted to be in my seat for the start of the Ladies Final and we were! I have already bored most of you with my tale of bumping into Venus at last year’s Wimbledon event, so I won’t bother you now!

Venus was the lowest ranked player (23^rd) to ever make it to the finals at the Wimbledon Championships. Her opponent, France's Marion Bartoli (ranked 18^th) was a surprise finalist after her semi-final win over Justine Henin on Friday evening. You could just sense that the crowd was rooting for the unknown Marion! Not me! I usually love the underdog but I had to go with Venus today! Well, after I knocked her to the ground last year what would you expect? What a powerful woman! After she won I loved how she hugged the Venus Rosewater Trophy and waved to her mother in the crowd! It was also great to see Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova in the stands. You just had to wonder what they were saying to each other about the match? I will look forward to attending Wimbledon again next year – if we get invited again! Thanks IBM! Ok, a blatant hint!

Life is Good in Tuscany!

If you were wondering what happened to my blog last week, well, I was on holiday! Jeff and I had a wonderful few days in Tuscany with the Odesses and Phippens.

On Wednesday after a stressful trip to the airport we flew to Pisa and then onto Castello del Nero in the Chianti hillside town of Tavarnelle Val di Pesa. The hotel had spectacular views over the valley and we had a great room.

Very early (and I mean early!) Thursday morning we had a hot air balloon ride. A terrifying first for me! I wasn’t sure that I could do this as I watched the crew inflate the balloon. Polli was the one who inspired me to take the chance. After a short and windless trip we landed in a vineyard! I have to admit it was so very beautiful and yes, I gripped the sides of the basket the whole time! Our pilot Stefano invited us back to his home for an al fresco breakfast. I celebrated my survival with a glass or two (or maybe more) of champagne and then spent the rest of the day recovering in the sun with more wine! Our evening meal was in the beautiful town of San Donato (via an outrageous taxi ride) in a restaurant called La Toppa. We ate outside basking in the warmth of quintessential tuscany. It was a wonderful family style meal of pasta, beans and meat. Dessert was gelato purchased in the town square. I think a nameless member of our group had two servings!

On Friday our group was divided for some special activities. The ladies went to the spa while the men went to a wine and chocolate tasting. The spa at the hotel was terrific. It has one of the best whirlpool/spa tubs I have ever had the pleasure to be in! I was forced out because of a scheduled massage with Diego! Heaven absolute heaven! Later, the husbands rejoined us for an olive oil tasting in the hotel wine cellar. Late in the afternoon while the men went to the spa Holly, Polli and I attended a cooking class in the kitchen with the new head chef, Stefano. We made fresh pasta together (what else would you expect?). I did actually learn a few things - like how to add basil to fresh dough without turning it all green (briefly fry it!). The kitchen was equipped with a very impressive electric pasta maker – boy did that beat all that hand cranking of my grandmothers machine! I want one of the electric ones!

Saturday saw us on a visit to the Fontodi winery in Panzano. After the obligatory wine tasting, we stopped in one of my favourite towns – Greve in Chianti (last time we visited the town we had the best mozzarella we have ever tasted!). Greve is the hometown of the explorer Giovanni Verrazano of bridge fame! It was a busy market day and his statue was obscured by the stalls. Polli and I had fun shopping for ceramica and bought a thing or two. Lunch was in a restaurant perched on the side of a hill in a village I never did get the name of. The grilled meats were fantastic and someone stole a wine glass! We returned to the hotel unable to do anything else but lie in the sun and drink wine for the rest of the day!

We returned to London on Sunday tanned, rested, well fed and carrying a few bottles of wine! I have been on the tread mill every day since!