Day eleven.

I had booked the 06:00 bus home. Oscar needed to be at the airport by 07:00. We all woke up early. Adam came with us so we could borrow some money due to the flight change. We stopped at the ATM, got money, Adam got out and Oscar and I went to the bus station. I arrived at the bus station with minutes to spare but it wasn't a problem. I found Jahtay and friend already seated. I joined them.

 We were on our way home and Oscar was on his way to the airport again. I was just 90 kilometers from my hut when Oscar called with confirmation that they put him on the next flight home. Everyone was safe. Thankfully the big bus is used to me and knows my small village. They let me off right at Mikunku. As I was walking down the bush path home, Mr. Phiri found me and gave me a ride to my place.

 I was tired and hungry. As soon as I reached home, I started making mac & cheese. I promised I would visit Casey. It was her last day in the village. After lunch was finished, I did just that. I biked over to Chankomo with Indie in tow to say goodbye. Little did I know that I would get roped into stay until after 23 hours. The village had a lovely party for her. I was happy to be the photographer. 

After it was all said and done and tears were she, they drove me home. Indie threw up in the car right before we reached. Luckily there were no hurt feelings. I said see you later to Ba Casey and slept until 09:00 the next day. I have never slept that late in the village. It was awesome.

Day ten.

We grab breakfast. The boys clean out the car. Mom and I clean out the hotel rooms. We checked in all our luggage at the desk and head to the mall. As we are waking down the mall we stop to get Oscar new specks. Mom and dad check out the shoe and book stores. I run into the car guy trying to find mom and dad. We all meet up in the glasses store. Dad and Oscar clear up the car stuff while mom and I clear up the glasses business. 

We meet them outside. The car man is so shady. I did not like him at all. We pay. He dropped us at the hotel. Mom and dad got a taxi and headed to the airport. Just like that. Hug. Kiss. They were gone. Oscar and I remained. We also got a taxi and went to the mall to watch a movie. His flight wasn't until 19. We watched Batman VS Superman. It was so long. In the middle, I took a break to pick up his glasses. 

As soon as the movie was over, he got in one taxi and I got in another. Again. Just like that. He was gone. I was alone going towards Adam's house. I reach Adam's house in time for Oscar to call and say he missed his flight. I read it wrong. At 19 he was leaving from his layover in Rwanda not Lusaka. He came to join us at Adam's place. We went and got Indian food with Jahtay and his friend. We came back home. Adam and I made banana bread while Oscar made a few phone calls. I got tired and needed to sleep. We all fell asleep. 

Day nine.

We woke up in time for breakfast. Knowing the condition of the car, the boys took it to the gas station to tune it up with everything needed. Mom and I stayed behind to organize the last few things. The boys returned. We peed one last time and were off. We were making great time until just past Kalamo when the tire decided to crap out on us. We had to drive back the 17 kilometers and get the wheel replaced. 

They took less than an hour and we were back on the road. Jokes on us. The tire again went flat. Luckily I am good at being tourist and accidentally got a picture of the phone numbers of the place. We called and an hour later they were roadside helping us. They put on a doughnut but to our dismay we had to return to Kalamo to get the wheel replaced. After hours and three wheels later, we were back on the road. I made sure I got a direct number for the guy who was helping us in case we have another problem again. 

We were not going to make it into Lusaka until after dark but we made it. Dad and Oscar both didn't feel good. The car guy was using my number very freely and had declared his love before we reached the hotel. Oscar was eating it up. We ate right at the hotel. Dad looked like death. We sent him to bed. We finished up and all crashed. Tomorrow they were all going to leave me. 

Day eight.

Our first adventure started at 6:20. We were up and ready. The bus came and got us. We arrived at Mukuni Big 5. The first order of business after waivers were signed was to watch the cheetahs run. They walked us to an area where they have a machine. This machine rotates this object around a course. The cheetahs like to chase the object. One by one they brought out the cheetahs and they chased the object until the jumped on it. It was amazing to see how fast they got.

After we finished there, we were off to see the lions. They took us down a bush path and there was two lions just laying on the ground. We were allowed to pet them and touch them. After a lot of pictures, we took them on a walk. To walk lions, you hold their tails. Oscar was terrified of the lions. Dad grabbed life by the balls and was the first one to go to touch them. After the lions, we went back to visit the cheetahs. This time they were laying down. Just like the lions, we got to touch them, take pictures and walk them. Oscar was obsessed this time. I think a cheetah is his spirit animal. We picked the sexist cheetah that only likes males. Mom and I were definitely not loved by this feline like she loved Oscar and Dad.

 After the cheetahs we were done. We were supposed to go on an elephant ride but due to wild elephants in the area, we couldn't go. I was most excited about the elephants. From here we went back to the hotel and got lunch. We were able to rest a little and get in a little tourist shopping before we headed out on our safari. We shared the safari vehicle with a cute family with 2 boys. The safari was nice. We saw lots of animals. Now mom, Oscar and dad can say they have been on a safari. The coolest thing that we saw were the white rhinos. Because of poachers, the rhinos are guarded 24-7. It makes it very easy for the safari people to find them. 

After the safari, it was time to eat. Leah and Cara had arrived in Livingstone that day. It was the perfect opportunity to met up with them for dinner. We agreed on Indian. We walked there just to find it is closed. We continued walking to Zambezi Cafe again. It was just as good the second time. We enjoyed conversation and being together. Snaps were taken and we departed our ways. 

Day seven.

Everyone is feeling good. We get breakfast at the hotel. Our first stop is Victoria Falls that morning. We gather our things we think we will need and head out. At this point I am pretty sure I told at least Oscar to bring a jacket. There are no problems getting there and in the gate. We start walking towards the falls and it is soaking wet. I had my rain jacket. Oscar left his in the car. Mom and dad... My bad. We press on. We all get soaked. It was so fun! Victoria really out did herself. We walk up and around and down. We took lots of pictures. We walked over to the top of the falls. It is crazy! Last time I was here, I could walk across the top. Now, the falls is gushing water. 

Next was to walk to the bottom. Oscar, dad and I were going along when we came to large baboons in the road. Oscar left us and after sometime, dad and I passed it. We hiked down to the boiling point. It is beautiful. It is mostly straight up and down. Coming back up is a little rough. Dad and mom did some shopping and I bargained for the items.  We go back to the hotel. Dad really wants to go ultra-lighting with Oscar. They book it the second we reached and have less than an hour before they headed out. 

Mom and I are just hungry. The hotel's restaurant is closed. The desk says we should go to Zambezi Cafe. They book a taxi for us and we go. The desk was right. The Cafe was SO good. Mom and I might have ordered dessert multiple times. The boys finished their adventure and met us at the Café. They came in beaming. They both had an incredible time. They saw elephants, giraffes and the whole bit from the sky. Oscar even got the chance to fly the ultra-light. The boys ordered the largest plate of meat I have ever seen and swallowed most of it. The night had come and we are tired. Earlier in the day we had planned the next day. 

Day six.

We took it slow in the morning. We ate breakfast at the buffet. It was delish. We packed up the car again and headed South. The road was so full of potholes. I was scared a tire was going to blow. In Choma we stopped for a pizza lunch and gas. As Zambia is Zambia, only one station had gas and huge lines. We waited. 

In the next boma we filled up on oil and ice cream. We get to Livingstone and it is very dark. I pop the hotel into the GPS that mom booked. It is in Zimbabwe. I check again. Mom calls Kerianna to check. It is definitely in Zimbabwe. We drive to the boarder. I forgot my passport. We probably don't have enough USD. We can't cross. 

We are all a little on the edge. I Google and book the Protea. Dad is driving and we get lost with the bad GPS directions. We need to eat. We change drivers. We get to Olga's. It is delish as always. The waiter tells us how to get to our hotel. After dinner we head there. We need sleep and to rest. 

Day five.

Dad was up and going. Blessings (my cousin) promised to show dad around the village in the morning. Maybe he was excited about that or something but he was ready to go. I finally rolled out of bed and helped him start organizing a bit. I also called Blessings over to whisk my dad away on their adventure.

 After they left, mom, Oscar and I hightailed it into action. We sorted out all the bags mom brought. We cleaned the house. We put away all the extra bed stuff. I cleaned the kitchen and made a snacks bag. We were packed and ready to go when dad got back. He was in good spirits. As he was walking up, dad was telling the story of The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. They went everywhere. It was perfect. Just what the doctor ordered. Blessings lost the soul of his shoe as they were walking. When they reached home, dad took off his shoes and gave them to Blessings. 

We took a few pictures. We said our goodbyes and headed to the Mukula's for lunch. Madam Mukula was very ready for us when we reached. Mom (American mom) made the nshima and we started eating. Dad's hands love nshima. I don't know why it sticks so bad to him but we sat and made fun of how un-African he is.  As soon as lunch was over, it was time to head back to Lusaka for a night. We thanked Madam Mukula and headed out. We desperately needed to stop in Kapiri to fill up with gas, oil, air and ice cream.  Oscar had been talking about the ice cream for days. 

After that pit stop we only had one hiccup of a ticket and we reached Lusaka. We went straight to get food for the hangry. I took them to a PCV favorite spot and got Mint. We went back to the hotel after and crashed. Oscar and I only crashed for a little because we promised Adam that we would go clubbing with him. At midnight we found ourselves at Hollywood. Oscar was still tired. He was just enjoying sitting and listening to the music. I was surprised to find lots of PCVs there and ended up dancing and catching up with them.