Oo, I love the beach! We left home at six am to get a seven o clock bus from town to Gisenyi. The journey is three and a half hours long each way, so seven hours in total. Some of you might feel that this is a bit too much travelling for one day, and normally I might agree, but Karyn, Mike and I are so hilarious that it just flew by. Gisenyi is is up in the north-west corner of Rwanda, and the road takes you past a volcanic mountain range. The volcanoes are beautiful.
So anyway, we get there at ten thirty all busting for the loo. Immediately my Kinyarwanda skills are put to the test. “Mbese hari umusarane? Umusarane muri he?!” -Is there a toilet? Where is the toilet?! You can sense the urgency in my tone. A kindly shop keeper allowed us to use their private bathroom, which was very much appreciated. Then to get to the beach. Here I came a crupper. “Turashaka kujya kuri plage.” Fortunately French is widely spoken here so the taxi guy knew what I meant. And because I’ve been before I knew that the beach was really close and that the taxi's initial estimate of 300 rwf was was too high. I’ve never really been one for sunbathing, especially when you're the only bazungu on the beach and there are thirty or so guys staring at you. So I sat in my hat of almost Ascot proportion and studied Kinyarwanda.
Karyn and Mike went for it though, despite the fact that we're right by the equator and it was by this stage midday. Classic. I can never emphasise enough how you can never wear too much suncream. As this photo of Mike's back proves.
We went to the Serena for lunch, and got there just in time to miss the afternoon rainstorm. Back to the beach quickly to make certain that we were sufficiently crispy before heading home at half five. The return journey shenanigans convince me that we all had heat stroke and dissaproving looks form other passengers that highlight that we had way too much fun.
Bus to Gisenyi: 6000frcs
Lunch at the Serena: 9000frcs
Laughing at Karyn and Mikes' sunburn: Priceless
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