A quick catch-up (ketchup?) on the past few days would have to start with the short walk to Karen Blixen's house on our first day here. What an emotional visit that was for me, and even Mark had some twinges of spine chill that come with momentous moments in history touching. I've walked that house so often in my mind that putting my feet on the floor, sitting at the stone table, felt strange and familiar. Strangely familiar. The approach to the house is exactly as it should be, and only the absence of veranda furniture seemed odd.

I didn't have nearly enough of the place and plan on returning a few more times for atmosphere soaking before we leave. I'll also be replacing my copy of "Out of Africa", missing for quite a while now, with one bought at the house ... and a few other items, as well! There are some wonderful carvings available here, and intricate beadwork bags and bracelets.

On Saturday morning we left for Tsavo National Park. Two hundred and fifty kilometers from Nairobi, it's about a four-hour drive ... something that concerned me. I was worried the kids would be bouncing off the inside walls of the car within minutes of leaving, but my fears turned out to be unfounded. They were both very, very calm, then sleeping, then happy enough to gaze out at the plains of East Africa and look for game. Well, Sam looked for game while Cj just looked.

We've come to Africa at a magical time. The big rains have ended, but only a short while ago, so the red soil of Tsavo was covered with wild flowers. I realize now that I hadn't really lived until I'd seen a wild elephant picking a huge bouquet of flowers and lush greenery for a morning snack.

The long grass hid the lions from us, and although we probably drove past loads of them, none were spotted. We did, however, see more than our fair share of giraffe, zebra, buffalo, impala, dik dik, bushbuck, waterbuck, wart hogs, elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and bazillions of birds. One hyena prowled the water hole at our lodge and a jackal made a brief appearance, but the big feline carnivores managed to escape our notice.