Through the windshield

So often when Paul and I are traveling around the countryside we wish aloud that you were all with us. So, when we drove to Kisii for groceries on the 17th I decided to take photos through the windshield so you could see this part of Africa through our eyes.
The road from Matoso to Migori is a rutted dirt road but once you leave Migori the road is paved and in fairly good shape which is an anomaly for this part of Africa. Within a few kilometers you begin to see verdant hills planted with sugar cane or banana trees.

The road is a narrow 2 lane which is shared by people on bikes or walking with heavy loads or school children in their matching uniforms.



The most awe inspiring and fear provoking sight are the trucks carrying impossible loads which take up 2/3 of the road. I'm often left chewing on my nails by the time we get past them. You probably read about the small vans known as matatas that we've seen carrying 20 plus 2-5 men hanging outside or onto the back. They fly by us driving in excess of 90 KPH.

You can tell you're getting close to Kisii because the side of the road fills with vendors with all sorts of things for sale. There's produce, luggage, second hand clothes from the US, live animals like hens and lambs, shoes, kitchenware and more.


Kisii itself is a small city with an ever expanding population. Every street is jammed with traffic and pedestrians. Usually when we're sitting at a standstill, people will come over to sell us something or to talk to us. It's all part of the entertainment and keeps us from getting too frustrated by the slowness or our progress.












The round trip takes 5 hours of driving and we allot another 2-3 hours for all the errands and shopping we usually have to do. By the time we get home in the evening, we are covered in red dust, are tired and thirsty and happy to be back in our little village. Sitting on the porch at night, watching the sun set over Lake Victoria we thank our lucky stars that we don't have to drive there more than once a month let alone live there. It was nice to have you along for the ride and hope you enjoyed the journey. You'll never look at grocery shopping quite the same way again.