When my parents came to visit!

Over the Christmas break I had some special visitors: my parents! It was great to show them around Nairobi and take them to some of the places I really enjoy here.

Out in the Mara

The first day we visited the National Museum to learn all about the history, cultures, and animals of Kenya. There is a snake and reptile park so we visited that too. Ironically, they had crocodiles and even a North American alligator. That evening we went to Diamond Plaza to enjoy some Indian food.

Enjoying Indian Food at DP

The next day we took off for the Mara to go on safari. It was practically a different place than the one I visited in November after having the short rains. There was so much grass and so many baby animals! My favorite sighting was the lion cubs with their mom. They were too cute for words- tumbling over each other to play, scratching paws on trees, and just rolling over in the grass on top of one another. We spent Christmas out in the Mara and it was so beautiful (except for the safari ants)!

With our guide, Dixon

The next couple of days we visited the giraffe center, elephant orphanage, Masai Market, a fair wage bead factory/shop, and of course Rosslyn's campus.

Feeding giraffes

We also visited a funky glass place way outside of Nairobi. It was a good thing we had an SUV because some of the roads were ridiculous with crazy rocks everywhere, awful ruts, and terrible dips. We finally made it, although the glass blowers were not there. Still we got to see the amazing artwork and interesting displays around the property. We crossed a ravine on a cable footbridge to get to a restaurant on the other side.

Inside a Masai home

The last day of their visit we went to Karura Forest which is just around the corner from where we live. It has beautiful waterfalls and makes you feel like you are far from the city.  That night I dropped them off at the airport so they could return back home to Florida. I was so happy to share my life in Nairobi with them!

with some Masai ladies