Victoria Falls A Grand Place

Tarzan & Jane have been busy moving from our Kingdom to our cabin with iron wheels! Yesterday, which was Sunday we received word that the people from the Shongololo train were picking us up 10:30 to drive us from our hotel to the train. This was good news in that we thought we would have to walk and carry our luggage. After a leisurely breakfast we packed up our belongings and rested on our patio/deck and watch the birds and enjoyed the sun. As we thought the train station is in reality only minutes from our Kingdom and after a brief information session about our cabin and some general info about the train we decided to visit the Victoria Falls Hotel. This is the old world hotel that is well above our wage level! However we did wonder through the hotel and on the huge veranda that looks out towards the “smoke that thunders”(Vitoria Falls itself) we had a beer and wine with a cold pepper soup and salad. We wondered down along the ravine in front of the hotel and watched the baboons play. They are all over the place and they watch us as if we are the strange creatures. Well in fact maybe we are!

After another walk through another section of the opulent Victoria Hotel we decided to return to the Kingdom Hotel with our computers and check our emails. The train does not have internet access. Our pass word for the internet at The Kingdom Hotel still works but no new messages from you guys.

On returning to the train we discovered that the power issues with the train’s air conditioning were still not fixed and so we joined about a dozen of our fellow passengers to sit outside the train on chairs nestled between the tracks. Only once we had to move to avoid being run over by another train passing through the station! After several scotches and white wine we all were enjoying the heat (it was about 36 degrees). The staff called all 48 of us into the club car where they gave us an half hour introduction to our safari over the next 17 days. You all should see Shirley’s face light up with each mention of the animals. Speaking of which we decided to wait until the late seating for dinner (8:00pm) and while waiting in the club car with a drink, Steve one of the guides came and told Shirley that we needed to come outside real quick - there were 3 elephants walking through the park that is part of the train station. It was amazing to see these huge, gentle beasts taking a walk in the park as if they owned it! Well in fact none of us would try and tell them to leave the flowers alone!!  Then later as we were eating dinner the same 3 same pachyderms wondered by our window as they checked out the food availability in the lawns beside the train track! Truly wonderful!!!

We find the constant stream of young local men wanting us to buy little trinkets a real pain . Finally yesterday I told this one guy named John that I didn’t want to buy anything but if he and his family were hungry I would buy them something at the grocery store. He had already told about his wife and daughters. So I bought him some bread and some pop for his kids. He was so excited and pleased. He took off home while walked back to the train. Only to discover that the young black guys hanging out there had obviously heard through the jungle vine works. Anyway now all of them when I said no to whatever they were selling they told me they were hungry and I could buy him some bread for his family. I have given up trying to understand what to do about the constant badgering, especially when they specifically try to make you feel guilty.
Dinner was good, nothing outstanding but at least the air conditioning was back on. We talked with our new friends and then got ready for bed. Both us slept well.

This morning we had an early breakfast and then went on a trek to Victoria Falls. I won’t say much here about the Falls other than it is huge and deserve the designation of world heritage. I have attached numerous pictures of the falls.

I will sign off now as Shirley has gone back to the room to have a little sleep and I think I need to join her before we go on our river boat cruise.
I will add the pictures tomorrow.