Ada found out that we can take bus 5A, from the 2E stop, to the National Air and Space museum, where they have lockers for us to leave our carry-ons. After 9/11, those are no longer available at the airport. I didn't hear that 5A part, so I got us on a 2E shuttle on which it said "air & space museum". It was just 50 cents, but at the airport they told Ada the bus fare was $6. I though we got a good deal.
We then took the same shuttle back to the airport and then onto the bus 5A. We were downtown at 12.45, a bit later than we originally thought, but at least with free hands. The plan was to walk from the 7th St down on Independence Ave to the Washington monument. But it was SO hot. 96F, going on 106F! The circular bus we thought to take was only operating on the weekends. After few blocks we saw the National Museum of African Art. Kinda symbolic for us, we thought, so we walked in for a bit to cool down under the AC.
It was obvious that the heat, on top of our tiredness and lack of sleep and the jet lag, was draining us fast, so we decided to take the taxi to the Washington monument. It saved us some time, and we didn't plan on visiting the museums on that Ave anyway. It was really uncomfortably hot walking around the monument where there were no trees. We were grateful for every little breeze and a cloud blocking the sun. We cooled off a bit in the fountain along with other visitors, and then in the shade walked along the reflecting pool toward the Lincoln memorial. Hot and hot. We took in the views and the pictures and then took the taxi again toward the Capitol.
I didn't realize that we could go onto the front lawn and right up to the capitol building. I guess I've usually seen the pictures of it from a far, because up close, the building didn't remind me of that capitol at all. It wasn't too crowded around. We didn't make arrangements to get a tour of the capitol, which was fine because we wouldn't have time for it anyway. We wanted to catch the 3.30 bus back to the airport, to have enough time to go to that other museum to pick up our bags and then back to the airport and through the security in time for our 6.50 pm flight.
We left the hotel at noon. I didn't sleep well because the AC was not working and Kampala is much warmer than west Uganda. I called them about it in the afternoon, but when we got back from dinner at 11, they forgot to fix it. They tried to work on it till 1, and then gave up and brought me a fan instead.
We told the driver we'd be back in 2 hours, but it took me over an hour just to go through each store to see what's in them. Then I went back and started deciding what to buy. They have really good deals, no more expensive than in the little towns out west. We ended up staying for 3 hours, and fr. JC took the boda-boda back to the hotel. We had a light lunch when we returned around 4, but then there was no other plan for the rest of the afternoon. I then decided to go back to the market, because I felt rushed in the morning. And I went on foot. I got the directions from the hotel personnel, and it took me less than 15 min to get there. I was just fine. And I finally got to see the parrots, in the city. They were on a billboard ad for printing. :)
At noon, we left the hotel and headed toward Kampala on the same road that is all dirt and holes for the 2nd half. We passed few tiny towns and villages; children walking on the side of the street back from school. It's amazing that there were kids as young as 6-7 on the road, by themselves. And the "emergency lane" here is really just 2-3 feet wide. They are so close to the passing vehicles. I guess that is why their uniforms, for those who have them, are in bright colors: yellow, pink, purple, blue... so that they can be seen. They were just walking, in small groups or alone, barefoot on hot pavement, sometimes carrying little plastic lunch bucket and/or a notebook. If they got tired of carrying them in their hands, they would just put it on their heads and continue on. :) It's also interesting that more often the smalled children don't have shoes, but the older they get less of them are barefoot. You'd think that very little ones have more sensitive feet that require more protection. But I guess if they don't develop hard skin when they're little, it would be harder later. 
The scenery was lushes hill country. Musana trees with bright yellow flowers and Muko trees with bright red flowers, stood out. There were even pine trees, planted forestation, used mostly for timber. Long horn cows, goads, boda-bodas, and women with stuff on their heads were also on the road. Besides the babies, they never carry things on their backs. They walk with straight shoulders and chins up as they carry those loads. 
We were staying at a Chinese hotel, Fang Fang. Being in a large and densely populated city, and staying at a Chinese hotel is such a culture shock. Chinese people work here, it's decorated in Chinese style, and their restaurant is all Chinese menu. What a difference from the last few days.
We gathered at the cathedral at 10. It is a large, round, modern building on the Church Hill, that can accommodate 1000 people. We were escorted to the front (of course) of family section. Once the Mass started, there were still dozens of people and children outside at each wide open door.
The procession started with barefoot dancers and followed with more than 30 priests, 7 jubilants, and 9 bishops. There were members of the parliament, local government, a governor, and members of the king Toro family. 
After the Mass we greeted a 92 year old monsignor Hilarion, ordained 60 years ago, who is an advisor to the pope and hears his confessions! A joyful and funny man as well.
However, our driver never showed up! As we grew accustomed that things here are not always on time, we were still hopeful he'll come, even after an hour. But he never did. We didn't have his number, and fr. Izzy was away the whole day, and his phone turned off. But, it was OK. The rest might have been just what the doctor had ordered. I just wish their free Internet here was any good, so I could upload some photos! The entire day I think I was able to upload just five!
I don’t what it is, but my stomach felt really heavy. It made me nauseated and quite uncomfortable. I also felt very weak and even walking required a lot of effort. I don’t know the symptoms of many African illnesses, but at least I wasn’t running a fever which is one of the symptoms of malaria. I think it’s just some bacteria.
The good, and the bed, thing was that we were traveling today, so I wasn’t going to miss too much. As a gift, as we were driving (7 km) out of the part, we got to see a large herd of elephants crossing the road in front of us AND we saw baboons! They came right to the van, as if begging for handouts, but still somewhat sheepish. We started throwing them granola bars and bananas from the lunch packets(which we were probably not allowed to do), and they had quite an appetite. Soon, several more came out of the bushes. We left when we run out of food, and they starting running behind us. :) Nice send of.
The park is over 2000 square km, with different vegetation to accommodate different animals. We saw elephants crossing the trail in front of us, hogs, bucks, cobs, buffalos, guinea fowls, and several other birds. It took us about an hour to get to the area where lions were seen the day before. Everyone wants to see the lions. 
We stopped one other group to ask them if they've seen the lions, and that is how we knew where to go. We wouldn't have seen them from our trail. They were far away and looked just like rocks. 4-5 other vans were parked there, which gave it away that they are looking at something. Even with the binoculars, it was hard to distinguish the lions. Then, some of them got up, and that's when we could kind of recognize them. An outcast buffalo, and old male, was heading straight toward them. He walked right into the pack of 7-8 lions. We called him a suicidal buffalo. We though they would tear him apart. But, they were not hungry and didn't budge when he walked around them. Then a male lion carried away what they caught previously, a buck or a hog. We spent quite a while watching them, from the top of the van at a safe distance, until they all moved behind the bushes. It was nice to see it, but I wasn't too impressed. I guess I thought we'd see the lions much closer, like at the wild park in Florida I've been to, where they'd be just few feet away. The other animals were much closer to us. 
We came back just in time for breakfast, and then it was leisure time. I relaxed to the sounds of birds singing in the shade by the pool, and then went for a swim. The water was just right. The pool edge has a drop, and you can see the Kazinga channel down bellow, so from the right angle it appears as if the pool is continuing onto the lake. After the swim, I went for a Swedish massage (which was almost a spiritual experience!), followed by lunch. I know, it's a hard life, but someone's gotta do it. :)
The bumpy ride, after that relaxing massage, did me no good. I wished I've just stayed and relaxed by the pool. When we came back, I went for a quick swim at the pool hoping to regain that peace from the afternoon. But when I went to my room, I just felt weak and my stomach was upset (which it was for the last few days) that I didn't even go to dinner. I tossed and turned the whole night, trying to find a position where I was lees nauseated. 
As I made my way to the restaurant, I would stop every few feet to snap a picture of something. :) Multiple colorful birds were playing in a puddle, running across manicured lawn, and feasting on the abundant flowery bushes. The lizards in bright colors would pose for a picture. A family of mongoose were playing. More hogs were roaming around, looking so cuddly even with those mean husks. It might have taken me an hour to walk over to the restaurant. :) The colorful nature makes me happy!
The breakfast was abundant and with many options to choose from; some local, some western food. I was just taking in all the scenic views from the terrace: several bodies of water that the Kazinga channel forms, rolling hills, ... it is just so restful to look at. The birds continued to amuse me as the cute yellow finches (as opposed to big black grackles in Austin) landed on the tables when people leave to clean up any leftovers.
It was almost 11 when we finished breakfast, and our lunch was to be at 1, because we had a boat tour scheduled for 2. I used their computer room for a bit, but the time for lunch came in no time. We asked them to pack our food and we'd eat it on the boat. We drove down the hill and met five other people for the two hour tour. We drove along the eastern side of the channel, where most of the animals were. Our guide was very good in explaining and also maneuvering the boat to come close to where the animals were.
We saw buffalos, hippos, antelopes, elephants, crocodiles,... We would see a herd of buffalos, for example, near the water edge, then pull near the shore and just snap pictures at them as they glance at us. We saw a few of them away from the herds and learned that those are older males past their breeding age, who sort of retired and now live alone, as the outcast. The hippos, as usual, were funny with their small ears and huge behinds and tinny tails. The mothers would keep the male babies until they are adults away from the father, who see them as a threat and want to kill them. Interesting. There were 2-3 elephants as well, each by themselves. One we tracked for a long time as he majestically made his way down a very steep hill, throwing the dirt with his trunk and carefully choosing his path.
There are over 600 species of birds in the park; we saw maybe 20: the weavers who weave their nests, some kind that that nest in the dirt holes, and eagles nesting at the top of the trees. But no parrots. :( At the end of the shore, there was a rather large village of fisherman, who are only allowed to fish further away from the park, on the lake. They live right there with all those wild animals around. 
The day went by real fast. After the boat, I spent about an hour on the computer. Then I thought I'd jump into the pool, but it was too cold for me. I enjoyed the seating area outside while waiting for others for dinner, which again was plentiful, and after a glass of wine I really got sleepy. Maybe the lack of sleep is just now getting to me. 
The room was all set up for bed time. The service is really good here, and they fix the room at least three times a day. This evening, they took the top bed cover off, opened the blanket a bit, closed the net-wall, and touched-up the bathroom. Nice.
