Visit Lons Parents

Last night we waved Lons' parents off at the airport, after they came to Rwanda for a short visit, partly to see us, and partly to escape Hollands' winter.

As this was their third visit we were left scratching our heads to come up with suitable activities, but then realised that they had not yet been to visit the lakeside town of Gisenyi, the first visit through lack of time, and the second time, due to political instability in Goma.

We were fortunate and the weather was good, with great views across the landscape. So we drove up to Ruhengeri for lunch, and then on to Gisenyi via Kiaka, one of Lon and mines favourite cooperatives. For those who don't know Lons dad, he has a technical background, and loves to see the African solutions for many technical issues. He also speaks good french, and has the nerve to go and ask people what they are doing and why...oh and takes photos too (in fact pretty much all the pics are Henks due to a technical malfunction ((I left the memory card for our camera at home!)))

Every 4 yr old should have a sickle to chew...



Henk and the shoemaker

brushes are sewn by HAND!!

We drove down to the lake so that Henk could see the trimaran fishermen, and to watch the sun set with a beer




..and what a glorious sunset!

The next day, we went to visit the Imbabazi Orphanage near Gisenyi. We have a subscription for a bouquet of flowers, which comes every week from the orphanage (along with about 50 others in Kigali), so I was looking forward to seeing fields of flowers. However, the weekend before they had had a heavy hail shower which damaged all the fields, and had wreaked havoc... We were still received with great hospitality and warmth...


We also, over the weekend in Kigali went to visit the metal market....where Henk got a tour from one of the cooperative administrators - who declared Henk a researcher (and thus able to take photos and ask questions)



the wood market


and the regular market

Lon and his family went to visit the Wikiweheba centre - but I will let him post about that.


Wednesday saw us visiting a company here called Gahaya Links, along with about another 14 dutchies and visitors. Usually the Dutch partners have a coffee morning once every six weeks or so, and in the past, we have visited projects or gone on outings, so I decided to combine a trip for Lons parents with my partner duties...and it went really well. The baskets and jewellery that they make, are of a really high standard, for export (but also have prices which reflect that).