Cultiva Farm Restaurant

 The ladies all made a quick change and we headed out to the Cultiva Farm Restaurant. It is a place that grows what it serves. One of the missionaries told me that they couldn't get a fixed menu because it all depends on what can be harvested when someone comes for dinner. I think Laura Nausin could really get into that. Grow what you cook. Here is their website if you want more info. 

All the food and drinks were delicious! There were raspberry, watermelon, passionfruit, and pineapple drinks as we first came in. Wonderful. The meal came on trays with bite-size pieces of each item. The garlic bread was a pull apart small round loaf. Little bites of chicken tacos, beef pieces, and fish. All kinds of vegetables. It was like an optical illusion as the bites were small but so many -- it wasn't till later I realized how full I was. Fabulous!

The entertainment came just as we were going to have dessert. We all went over to the couches and watched the very talented choir who came to sing and dance for us. They couldn't have been older than high school age, but they were completely in tune and very good!

Jeffrey and I had to leave early as he had a business zoom call with his people in Accra. I heard that the kids were all invited to sit down and have the dessert. I can imagine how cool that was for bright and talented children from the slums to sit down at a fancy restaurant. It was a very good day.

The Farm - Part of the Restaurant walls

Alcoves of seating for different parties

Food - Delicious!

Greeted with fruit juice

Bites of wonderful flavors

Waiting for the entertainment

Choir comes in - pictures with the girls - pictures with the boys

Yup - Happy Campers!

Quick peek at Karen Blixen home

 It was late and we had reservations for a fancy dinner and entertainment, but two ladies really wanted to get a glimpse of Karen Blixen's home that is now a museum. One of the ladies was a huge fan of "Out of Africa" and didn't want to miss it.

So we stopped by and some of the ladies ran up to the house to take pictures. I noted the security guard was a little nervous but we were gone in just a little while. I liked "Out of Africa" too though I didn't need to run up to take pictures. Sorry, my pictures are from afar. Ah, the last one was from one of the ladies!

Two pictures sent:

When you hang outside the store.....

 A trip to the Souvenir shop was planned for just a little bit. We drove into Golden Eagle Souvenirs and looked at all the cute stuff they had. It actually looked like there were three shops in the plaza but we went to one that some had already gone to earlier in the week. 

One of the ladies said the man would give us good prices. Translated: All prices are negotiated. I quickly found some owls in soapstone (soft rock that can be carved) for my grandkids and a soapstone chess set. I have no pictures of the store - which actually was very cool with so many, many choices, but shopping and I are not very good friends. After negotiating and getting my things wrapped in so many layers of newsprint and tape that they could be dropped from a height and still not break, I left the store and hung out in the parking lot. 

There are interesting things in that parking lot! I had a lot of time on my hands as the ladies all had to negotiate and get their items wrapped - There were only two wrappers. I don't think the organizers put in wrapping and negotiating time as we were there for longer than they had planned.

In the parking lot I ran into some men dressed up in the Maasai tribe colors. They talked and answered questions and of course danced with me. This time I stopped when it got too awkward. Those men can really jump! I wonder if they play basketball or volleyball?

 The flag he is holding is not three colors with a ladybug. If you look closely it is a shield with two spears behind. I really can't help wonder if a Scotsman had a big influence on that tribe as many of them wear the red plaids that look a lot like a kilt.

The danced with me for just a little bit:

Kazuri

 Our next stop of the day was at a bead factory. We took a tour of how the beads were made, listened to the stories of the women who worked there, saw how beads are made from clay, saw how they were fired - twice, inspected approximately four times, watched (and participated) when the ladies all stopped to dance, and went into the shop where everything is sold.

The ladies all had difficult lives and complicated stories from the slums of Nairobi though most wore smiles when we were there. They were friendly and encouraging when we did a line dance. I am hoping the video gets lost somewhere so I don't ever show up. I could only get one part of my body in sync - not like they could with their feet, hands, heads, and hips.

I did love their work and their lovely goods - I just could not justify the cost for all of my sisters, daughters and in-laws as a bracket alone was $22. Up from that for everything else. That times 24 - nope, don't look for one from me. But I will show you their wonderful work.