Darker Shade of Brown

This past weekend, I did what I love to do most - I went to the beach. Lumley Beach is a little bit of paradise. Apparently, the beaches south of Freetown are even better.

The locals are mostly shy. We did hear the occasional "white boy" while walking down the streets. Otherwise, closer to the tourist spots, like the beach, the people of Freetown are incredibly enterprising. I am sure that during your travels you became well acquainted with offers to arrange for transport or to go buy you a soda in exchange for a tip.

On Saturday, my roommate and I walked from the Hostel to Lumley. The journey took 1.5-2 hours each way. I feel that day was the best one thus far. We walked past a beautiful old mosque - standing alone in a neighborhood burgeoning with churches.

Yesterday, the group originally planned to visit a chimpanzee preserve due south from Freetown. However, transport did not materialize (we could not get a proper rough terrain vehicle or for that matter someone who could guarantee they knew the way out to the preserve). I guess city people are generally the same all over the world. They know their territory and little else.

So instead, we headed back out to Lumley again. I could not have been happier. I swam for hours. The group paid the price for being out at the beach most of the day. Michael (the other 1L), Steve and Elizabeth (she went to Haiti & Jamaica in the other UJ trips) had rough nights. We have not pinpointed what it was that they ate or drank that could have made them sick. We are all hyper-vigilant about the stuff we ingest. Thus far we conclude it must be related to the prolonged exposure to the sun. They are all taking some of that fizzy vitamin stuff you give me from time to time.

I have to return to work now.
I love you baby.
I miss you.
xoxoxooxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxo