The Unexpected

Paris--Kenya--Spain, part six.

Some of the best things about having an adventure are the unexpected things. Here are a few from our adventure.

Sunrise over Greenland on my flight from Salt Lake City to Paris.

Seeing this guy pass by while we were on the Batobus, a water bus service on the Seine.

Deciding at the last minute to hop off the Batobus and check out the botanical gardens.

Actually seeing people in the Seine, which I've never seen before. I think these two are police officers doing a training exercise. 

Using this self-cleaning rest room in Paris. In between every single user, it closes its door for a few minutes, rinses itself off, then opens to let the next the person in. I'm pretty sure there's a panic button you can push if you accidentally end up inside during the cleaning cycle.

Hanging out with our group on safari. There were eight of us, half of the group Kenyan, and our driver. Great people, great dynamics. And the food was amazing.

Having the chance to visit a Masai village.

And stay dry inside one of their homes--pitch dark except for the fire in front of us--during a rainstorm. The mother built the entire house, which kept us warm and dry, out of cow dung. It took her about two months, and it has been standing at least nine years.

Helping half a dozen other safari vans get up a muddy hill. Our driver was the only one who was able to do it without getting stuck. It was fun to watch everyone, drivers and passengers alike, putting in their two cents about how to get out of our collective predicament.

Stopping under a tree for a picnic. This isn't our safari van. Imagine a vast expanse dotted with lone trees shading safari vans and picnickers.

How quickly we became jaded about the wildlife we saw on safari. "Zebra!" someone would cry, and we'd all jump up to take photographs. "More zebra!" someone would say. "Oh," we'd reply and maybe cast a glance. "More zebra," someone would think, and not bother to say it out loud.

Discovering the existence of albino zebra at the Nairobi National Park. 

Actually feeding and touching a giraffe. They have big tongues. And yes, I was touched by a giraffe tongue. I survived, but I probably don't need to do that again.

All of the blossoming bushes in the median as we drove for hundreds and hundreds of kilometers in Spain.

The birds circling and screeching in the Alhambra courtyards. 

This sweet view from our pension window in Seville.

A parade in honor of San Cristobal--patron saint of travelers--in Ontinyent, Spain, where we stopped for the night. We heard the band play and ran out on our balcony to watch a procession of motorbikes, cars, and trucks of all sizes barrel by, blasting their horns. We followed the parade to this park, where a priest was blessing each vehicle with holy water and city leaders were passing out ribbons to drivers.

Finding geese living in the courtyard of a cathedral in Barcelona.

This smiling lobster.