Eco Tur Angolan Adventure!

Last weekend Janet, Nathan, Owen, Riley and me (all 7 months pregnant me) adventured east into Angola with Eco Tur and 2 other families from our compound. It was quite an adventure!!! 

1st Day: Luanda - N’dalatando – Kalandula

We left Luanda at 6AM following the main road east in the direction of N’dalatando (a new road from Zenza). We stopped for a coffee some 100kms in. The local kids came from the school to check us out. They were pretty interested by all of us. Then we continued on to N'dalatando, the capital of Kwanza Norte province where we visit the Botanical Gardens, and old agricultural college at Kilombo, refuel and had lunch. The Botanical Gardens were amazing! All the plants were so lush and huge! I wish we could go back in time to see the gardens and college at its prime. At the hotel for lunch, we saw about 10 beautiful, tall women competing in the Miss Kwanza Norte doing interviews and taking pictures. The winner will go on to Miss Angola and then to Miss Universe. Very cool! After lunch we loaded back in the Land Cruiser and traveled through Lucala, Cacuso and Lombe. We took a photo opportunity at the bridge over the Lucala River. We searched hard to see some crocodiles, but weren't successful. We loaded back in the cruiser to find that the gear box went out! The other cruiser towed us to the hotel where all 13 of us climbed aboard to make it the last little bit to our main objective - the majestic Kalandula Falls on the Lucala River, (a rival to Victoria Falls in height, the second largest in Africa, locally known as Quedas de Calandula). The falls were amazing! Janet and I were quite worried we were going to lose a kid over the falls, but we successful in keeping them out of the river and safe from the edge. Nathan and Owen did adventure around on all the rocks. Climbing on the rocks was Owen's favorite thing we did all weekend. Can't say I blame him. After visiting the falls we headed to our small basic hotel in Kalandula. Very basic indeed and it felt a lot like camping. Owen really dug the bunk beds!

2nd Day: Kalandula – Pedras Negras - Luanda

After breakfast we said fairwell to our tour guide Carlos and climbed aboard a minivan Eco Tur hired for us to complete our adventure. We visited a rather surprising church in Kalandula village where Owen got to try goat wrangling with one of the local goats. He was uninterested in being near Owen thankfully since he had some nice little horns on him. Then we set off for Pedras Negras, day 2's main objective. At Cacuso we turned south where we reached the fascinating rock formation known as Pungo Andongo (Pedras Negras). We picnicked and climbed one of the main rocks for a spectacular view of the surrounding country side including Capanda Dam and saw the famous “rock footprint” of Rainha Ginga, the African Queen. Our picnic included an audience of the local kids. Our tour guide gave them a bunch of food afterwards. Then we headed for back for Luanda with one stop for a photo at the Kwanza River. Almost all the roads were paved on the main part of the trip except for a very difficult 20 km of very rough road. Concerns for our minivan skyrocketed as we were rocked all over the van and the windows and doors shook a bit more than we liked. The minivan was not designed for off-roading! Or a pregnant woman onboard during the off-roading! The minute we hit the rough road, Riley completely turned off and passed out on Nathan. It was hilarious. Here we are trying not to get whiplash and praying the van doesn't break down and Riley is drooling in the backseat sound asleep. We finally made it back to Talatona. We were all exhausted. After showers and dinner, we all went straight to bed.

Our adventure into Angola showed us more than just the beauty of the Angola nature. We traveled through many villages where we saw small mud huts and thatched roofs, children running around barely dressed, villagers selling homemade charcoal or whatever animal they caught (saw a few monkeys this way), and the farming they do to live. It is very humbling and made our "basic" accommodations in Kalandula look 5-star as the rain storm pounding our tin roof keeping us dry. Being an American experiencing Africa has brought a new perspective of thankfulness, humbleness, and appreciation for how I was raised and all the blessings in my life.

Now for the pictures!! 

There are more if you want to check them out on my Picasa site: October 2012

Ciao!

Nathan turns 30!

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY NATHAN!!!! 

WE LOVE YOU!!!!!

 Ciao!

Drinkin' ze bier!

When I asked Nathan what he wanted to do for his 30th birthday, he quickly replied "Oktoberfest"! So we started planning and met Janet and Guy in Frankfurt, Germany a few months later. Our trip ended up coinciding with Nathan's Aunt Miriam and Uncle Alton who were heading to Rome. They joined us for a several days in Germany before continuing on their way. We took the train to meet up with Julia, Anita and Wolfgang Schnaiter (our German cousins on Janet's Dad's side). We hit the ground running staying very busy!

We took a tour around Broggengin, Germany where Janet's ancestors are from.  Owen thought it was hilarious and quite clever to pose like the soldier fountain. And if big brother did it, well... little sister is quick to follow (with a little help from her Jido!)

There are tons of orchards of various fruits and fields of vegetables. The locals were currently harvesting apples and grapes, both of which we got to help with. Owen and Riley really loved seeing the chickens and horses we walked by. We stopped to feed the chickens through the fence. 

The vinyards were all over with beautiful grapes ready to be picked! 

Riley's 1st apple picked straight off the tree!

Owen suddenly decided to jump across the ditch. It was super adventurous!

Trying our hand at feeding this magnificent horse a pear. He was pretty uninterested.

Owen pumping water! Our group on our walk.

 

Our cutie Riley-bug. Anita and Julia in their traditional dirndl and Wolfgang in his lederhosen. 

Chacha, Riley, Europa Park Mouse, Owen and me ready for the Oktoberfest at Europa Park. Nathan was so excited! 

Nathan and me at Europa Park Oktoberfest. Here is Nathan's 1st bier in Germany!

 

Let the birthday celebrations begin!

Nathan with his babies and of course a Black Forest hat!

We decided to cross the border into France and check out one of the castles, Chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg. Amazing!

Owen taking our picture. 

We took the "short cut" up to the castle and got to hike through the forest a bit. Super fun! This 6 month pregnant momma made it just fine! Nathan was jumping for joy he didn't have to carry me!

My sweet Owen is becoming quite a poser when he's in the mood. It's making for some fabulous pictures. 

He was telling me all about the weapons. The picture on the right is of the beautiful country side from high atop the castle.

Family picture by a huge cannon!

Owen and Riley selected their weapons. Owen chose a traditional knight role with a sword and shield. And what's a girl to pick? A mace of course! Right on sister!

There was a festival going on at the castle and they were holding a bunch of activities in the courtyard. Owen wanted to walk across the tight rope holding the box. Then he got to add it to the box castle everyone was making. The French guys working got Julia to walk across too calling her a princess. :) 

Check out this little peep hole!

Owen hammering in a steel nail to a log. Posing as Owen the Knight, Defender of the Castle! 

Riley caught a ride down from the castle and Owen helped Jido steer clear of the rocks. 

Then we were off to Oktoberfest in Munchen!

An apple juice to toast with Jido

At Oktoberfest

Stopped for Burger King. The kids loved the crowns! Owen passed out after he ate still wearing his. Super cute!

In one of the bier gardens

Nathan's 1st real Oktoberfest bier!! Later that night he hacked my Facebook account saying he was wasted as many of my friends know. I wanted to feel apart of the group with all the bier drinking so I posed with one of the giant steins.

Eins zwei g'suffa!!

Owen prosting with Julia and Marina, our Germans! He loved it as you can tell by his massive smile!

Nathan and Julia

We adventured around Munchen the next day. Riley was really good a catching a ride on Daddy's shoulders. 

Owen posing again with "Pumbaa". Haha! Nathan and the kids on the train. 

Oktoberfest fun!

Three generations at lunch. Chacha walking with Riley. 

Nathan and Owen at the Hofbrauhaus - I snapped the picture just as Nathan got slapped... :/ Miss Riley on a mission to shop! 

Playing in the Munchen market

Back in Broggengin we saw some of Anita and Wolfgang's neighbors harvesting their grapes.

Meeting Emil the duck. Riley thought he was really cool! Later at the wine festival, she was conked out! Too much German fun!

Anita found me some alcohol free bier! I tasted just like the real thing! 

Owen and Nathan throwing up their horns at the wine festival overlooking the amazing German countryside. 

 Janet and me at the wine festival. 

In Freiburg we got Owen a little boat to pull in the water canals. There were street performers all over the city. Nathan gave Riley a coin to give one of the guys painted all in silver. There was no way she was getting close or giving him her coin!

Super cool! This machine separates the grapes from the stems!

We went on a wine tour in Kiechlinsberger. It was awesome to see how they make wine. Plus a little tasting never hurts!

The building behind Nathan and me was once a castle in the area. The gentlemen pouring Nathan some wine is the CEO of the wine company being our tour guide. Wolfgang really hooked us up on this tour!

Red wine barrels - yum!

Julia, Anita, Wolfgang and Guy took Riley and Owen to their apple orchard. Owen and Riley worked hard harvesting apples. Owen was so proud to pick a special apple just for me! Nathan, Janet and I snuck out to do a bit of shopping in Herbolzheim. 

Owen was incredibly fascinated by Wolfgang's motorcycle. We geared him up and Wolfgang took him on a slow ride around Broggengin. Talk about smiling from ear to ear!

Not trip to Broggengin is complete without a few games of boule ball! The kids found a little playground and had lots of fun while the adults competed on the official boule ball court in the town. 

Anita and Julia in action!

We had an amazing trip! Wolfgang, Anita and Julia were fantastic hosts and we loved spending time with them. Guy headed to Denmark for a little business then back to Texas. We got to bring Chacha back to Angola with us!!! We are so excited to have her visit!!

Ciao!