Instead, we opted to celebrate an atypical Christmas in Africa with the Grudda family. While it cost more to get to Sierra Leone than back to America and our Christmas decor was not so extravagant (one inflatable wreath, a fake miniature tree, and presents wrapped in suitcases/butcher paper), we thoroughly enjoyed exchanging 4 feet of snow for pristine sandy beaches and 90 degree weather. Jealous?
Christmas Eve
Steve made arrangements for us to charter a boat from a local businessman and go barracuda fishing on Christmas Eve. We had brunch at a local restaurant, enjoying some freshly squeezed pineapple juice compliments of Steve's zone, while he dropped the truck off at the shop. Unfortunately, after taking a taxi to the marina we found that the captain of the boat had stood us up.
We all crammed back into a taxi and headed back to the flat that was generously made available for our use by the Hogues, a couple who had traveled back to their home in America for the holidays. The Country Lodge Hotel was within walking distance, so we spent the rest of the day lounging by the pool.
With plans to try fishing again the following day, we ate the Christmas pork on Christmas Eve, instead of the traditional spread of junk food. Despite traversing the Atlantic Ocean in a suitcase (not to mention the water-taxi ride into Freetown) and surviving several days of intermittent power in the fridge, the pork was excellent. We were especially grateful since pork is such a rare find in Morocco.
The Grudda family traditionally opens one present on Christmas Eve. The present is usually some sort of toy weaponry which ushers everyone into a playful war. This years Christmas Eve presents included dart guns, helicopters, plastic bubbles, punch balloons, and bowling.
Christmas Day
We opened a few more presents Christmas morning but had to leave early because, despite the garage's promise of having the truck done in 3 hours, we were still taxing around Freetown. We stopped at a local store and bought the coolest hats we could find to protect us from the sun.
To our great pleasure, we arrived at the marina to find the boat already in the water and Martin, it's owner, behind the wheel. We spent the majority of the day being entertained by Martin's commentary on life and the history of Sierra Leone. Despite not catching any barracuda, we enjoyed spending the time out on the water and got to see much of the Freetown coastline.
We also saw proof that there are, indeed, some good-sized fish in the waters there.
Later that night, we finished opening the presents and ate too much candy.
Because of Sierra Leone's historic ties to Britain, the day after Christmas is observed as Boxing Day. The truck mechanic took full advantage and so we spent another day in taxis. Our destination was now the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, located just a few miles outside Freetown, and taxi seating was tight!
The sanctuary is home to almost 100 chimps that have been rescued from residents in Sierra Leone. Human characteristics and novelty make baby chimps a unique pet. They are trained to do all sorts of things from shaking hands and clapping to smoking, drinking, and picking pockets. A mature chimp is 5 times as strong a man, however, so they become less adorable and more of a nuisance after the first few years. The sanctuary liberates them from peoples' homes (it is illegal to keep them as pets) and works to rehabilitate them to the wild. This ensures that the chimpanzees can live out their 50+ years in relative freedom instead of in cages.
Not a typical Christmas...but we had fun.
-David & Nicole
1 comment:
Awesome!
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