I am (now) so glad we first experience the simpler accommodations, because this now seems so heavenly. Moving up in luxury is always easier than going down. I got to bed little after 1am, but still couldn't fall asleep until after 2. But then I slept like a log! This place is so quiet, and few occasional voices outside didn't bother be. I awoke to the alarm at 9.15 because I thought we need to meet at a certain time.
The breakfast was again buffet style, with boiled eggs, sausages, egg rolls, plantains, baked chicken, cinnamon rolls... and they even make you an omelet the way you want it! I took a whiff of the chopped green peepers they put in the omelet, and they smelled so real :) Wonderful!
I sipped my mocca (made it myself!) and nibbled on the fresh cut pineapple leisurely. We were not on any strict schedule today. Our driver showed up at 11, but we didn't leave until 2. (again, it's Ugandan time) I just enjoyed the serene nature around, my heart thanking the Creator of all that beauty. CHANGE
Fort Portal is the 2nd cleanest city in the country (don't know which one is the 1st, but it certainly can't be Kampala). Major Portal was a soldier. The city looked nicer than Kampala and Jinja. We were shown a few things along the way and could barely see Rwenzori mountains in the distance. On the Church Hill, we visited the Catholic headquarters where sisters of st. Therese live and who run the Vinka hospital. Vinka name comes form the word Binka, which means snow. When whoever named this place has asked about the snow at the top of the mountains in the distance, the locals told him it's Binka. He understood Vinka, and since the snow could be seen from where the hospital is, he decided the hospital should be called that way. Sr. Abbeley arranged for us to have lunch there.
Four of us from the group then decided to walk around the town for a couple of hours. The downtown area is maybe 1-2 square miles. All along the way are little shops, supermarkets, clothing and shoe stores, repair and hardware shops, and a few eateries. There were men selling coats wearing 10-15 of them on them. We got a few postcards, but were too late at the post office to get the stamps.
Along the way we took a few pictures of the area and the locals. When we came across the square where they bring matokes (green bananas), loaded on their bikes, for sale, they were saying some things to us that we didn't understand. In other places locals were also yelling/talking something toward us in local language and every now and then I heard Muzungu (white people). I posed to take a picture with that scene in the background, and, not seeing what is happening behind me, the friend taking the picture told me they threw a stone toward us! We were being stoned! Well, just a little pebble, and just one angry (for whatever reason) person, but still, it made be uncomfortable. Other people on the streets were OK. We of course got lots of stares, since we stood out, and few said something we didn't understand, but it was fine. We then found one (the only) souvenir shop and got a few items while waiting on our ride back. The store is owned by a group that has local men and women making things like drums, baskets, and necklaces, and that is how they support themselves. I saw some drums I might get when we come back in few days.
We got back around 6. It was a nice change to take a shower and get ready before dinner, instead of later at night just before bed. It felt like I was going out for dinner. This hotel has 33 rooms, single ($85), double ($90-100), and family ($150). We saw a few people with British accent and today few groups of Ugandans came. Another group of 20 people from Spain came, but were told their rooms were not available any more. (some more important guests got them). We are now still waiting for a table next to the fireplace to open up to have dinner. It's close to 10 PM!
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