Spreading Our Wings

Over the three times we've been to Kampala we've learned a little more and become a little more confident about how to get to a few places in the Sanyu neighbourhood on foot.  It may seem pretty elementary to walk to a restaurant, a convenience store, an ATM and a small supermarket all within a 1km radius of our guesthouse.  But that's been about the extent of our independent expeditions to this point. 

Let us remind you what Kampala streets are like. Buses, cars, trucks, matatus, bodas and even a few tuk-tuks are all trying to get where they need to be at the same time with no obvious rules or order, other than the apparent standard that the biggest and boldest has the right of way. That leaves the pedestrian at the bottom of the totem pole, which means as always, any outing that involves crossing the street is an adventure. 

Well, today we set out into unknown territory as we ventured on foot to do some errands a bit further afield.  

First stop was to a pharmacy we discovered a few days ago to price some tablets needed at the home. 

Next it was off to the Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau. Both previous trips here we have ended up visiting the optical unit there, once to deliver donated glasses and once for a repair job of our own. Both times we were driven to the site. This trip, we had several pairs of glasses donated which today, we placed in a small back pack and set out on our own to the facility which is about a kilometer away in a direction outside our zone of familiarity. We only had to ask for directions once when we came to a Y in the road. Mission accomplished!

We then made some of our usual stops on the way back. A short stop at the guesthouse to cool off in front of our fans and then it was off to a new place for lunch. 

Although we had had been to the locacation of the Namirembe guesthouse before we hadn't had the opportunity to enjoy their recommended lunch buffet. This is directly behind Sanyu but since a fence separates the two properties, it involves a short walk up the street and then up the hill via some rather steep and uneven steps. 

We understand why it was recommended. Our "lunch" included beef, chicken, matoke (a type of green bananas, boiled and served with a peanut sauce), green beans, carrots, rice, potatoes,squash (although they called it pumpkin), coleslaw and fresh fruit. 

We returned "home" feeling quite satisfied, not only because of the delicious food. We now have two places we can get to on our own to get a meal, and we've spread our wings a little further in getting around the neighbourhood...and we only had to rely on a Ugandan once to get across the street.