Nairobi is as much a western city as you will find anywhere. From its big city skyline and street-clogged traffic to its cozy restaurants and urban sophistication. With more than its fair share of big city problems, I was warned of crime and violence. I was admonished to take drivers everywhere and don't be out alone after dark. What did I find? Again, Africa surprised me. One the one hand an abandoned estate behind our building had homeless people living in psuedo luxury with overgrown ponds. On the otherhand, I found some creature comforts.
Rwanda's food scene consists of African buffets with rice, plantains, beans, cooked greens and a meat (usually goat). Weekly is fine. Anymore, wears on you. It's short list of fine dining is limited to a pizzeria, the occasional Chinese food and pasta. We survive on the ever-present brochette (kebabs, usually goat) and chips. After more than a few weeks in Rwanda I was ready for big city restaurants. Right about now I could go for a fresh Thai chicken salad and a crisp Pinot Gris served on the patio. And so I did. Simple becomes more delicious when you've been living on the basics. With more than a few trips to the food court of my local mall, I had my fill and could return to the basics.
Besides restaurants, the best thing about Nairobi is the National Park. Situated next to the city and on the jetliner's approach to the airport, it's an amazing expanse of open plains. I can't say as
though it felt like wilderness, it was certainly something more than a trip to the zoo. A bit like being mixed in with the animals. Despite the steep fees, cumbersome paperwork and lack of a map, it was still well worth the hassle.
The Nairobi Park wilderness "zoo" looks fascinating--like a much larger and more varied (in animal life) version of the veldt installation at the zoo here in Fort Wayne.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't clear on the Thai salad though. Was that at a Thair restaurant in Nairobi you discovered, or did you make it yourself?