Traffic circle with a little model of the volcano

Walked through Moshi, nice little city for the most part.

Got up about 6:30, went down to the lobby for breakfast - could have ordered eggs if I had known they cook them to order - still it was good. Met with the TrekkingHero contact (Abraham) and guide (Oswald). Signed forms saying we could 'die' doing this. Oswald checked my gear and I guess I passed - fit it all in a duffle. Met my hiking partner (Gordon) who seemed glad that he wasn't hiking with a youngster (he was a month shy of 71.) He lives in Utah so he could commiserate with me about the lack of beer in KSA. He got in late the previous night and had severe jetlag. 

Got some of the story of his life & wife (2nd marriage for both). He's a retired neurology research PhD, not a doctor but more of a clinician(?). His wife was born in Czechoslovakia and is about 10 years younger so not retired yet. He said she remembers when the Russians rolled in and took over. She got out when she was 19 and was convicted of something in absentia so was hesitant to go back. Apparently she does not like communism at all.

Across the street from the hotel, boys
walking home from school.

Oswald took me on a 'hike' through the city to pick up some diamox (helps prevent altitude sickness) and a phone chip for me. I like to have a local number if I'm going to be in a place for a while. (It really proved useful this time around.) However, I apparently 'failed' the test - not pole-pole enough. (Pole pronounced 'poly' as in roly-poly, means slowly-slowly.) 

Back to the hotel for a late lunch and a brief nap. The weather is beautiful if cloudy almost all day. Cleared up by sunset to get some nice pictures of the mountain from the rooftop restaurant. (shown below)

Did I mention that after I arrived on the 5th that I got an email from Ethiopian Airlines (motto: Worst. Airline. Ever.) that they had canceled my return flight - no explanation. I had to contact a couple guys I work with to discover that KSA added Ethiopia to their 'banned' list. Now I have to figure out how to get back, but there is no time before the trek so it'll have to wait. "Tomorrow is another day." Guess the movie, 1975 is the best version.