Day 1
March 1st, 2002

"We have arrived safely in Toledo, Ohio on the first leg of our trip. ------ after 3 months of preparation we are on our way! Praise the Lord!

We took off this morning at 6:40 am from Hayward airport and enjoyed an uneventful 4-hour flight in sunny skies, landing safely at 3:00 pm. Phyllis and Gene Paul met us at the airport, and drove us to their lovely home where we are spending the night. They hosted us to a delicious home cooked meal. We leave tomorrow morning for St. John's Newfoundland ...on our way to Morocco.

No time for pictures yet, but they will soon follow."

-MELANIE

Day 2
March 2, 2002

TOLEDO TO ST. JOHN'S NEWFOUNDLAND

Arriving at the Toledo Airport, we had an experience of being delayed by a loose bolt and nut (on the buss bar of electric panel in the tail section). We prayed and many people at home were surely praying for us. Prayer moves the hand of God, and after a three-hour delay we took off.

The three-hour flight to Newfoundland was uneventful and we landed safely at sunset. It was 27 degrees F, with a strong artic wind blowing. The Custom Agent boarded the plane and warmly welcomed us. At St Johns, we had a wonderful meal and restful overnight.

-Bobbie

Day 3
March 3, 2002

FLYING TOWARD THE AFRICAN CONTINENT AND MARRAKECH, MOROCCO

We had beautiful takeoffs and landings. After quickly refueling in the Azores, we had lunch in the plane. Little did I realize I was going to have a beautiful tray of fresh fruit (kiwi, melons, oranges, apples, grapes) flying 42,000 feet over the Atlantic. Flying over the water for such a long time was an important part of the trip.

Upon landing in Marrakech, we were driven to the Casbah, an old scenic area of town. Our French-run hotel was located on a crowded narrow street behind a wall. The hotel was beautiful, with an oasis of trees surrounding a blue pool. We rested well.

-Phyllis.

Day 4
March 4, 2002

MARRAKECH

We awoke to a beautiful morning with the sun streaming in the window. We couldn't wait to get out and experience Marrakech! Qrem, our taxi driver and tour guide, showed us the town. At the elegant La Maumounia Hotel, once a palace, we enjoyed sitting in the garden drinking mint tea and marveling at our fresh grapefruit, handpicked from a tree by a grounds man. We went to almost every jewelry shop we could find, browsed antiques and handmade goods in the famous Souks of the Medina (marketplace). Many shops posted pictures of celebrities (as in "Clinton", "Cruise" and "Kidman"). It gives them good business and lends to their credibility. In some places the price was set, but in others they asked what we would pay. In the metal working area, we saw a boy about seven years old pounding metal into ornaments. We were well taken care of by the people of Morocco and learned the importance of having guides who speak English, who would entrust us to other guides.

The dinner highlight was an amazing dinner spectacle "Chez Ali" held outside of town. .

-Holly

Day 5
March 5, 2002

MARRAKECH

More tours... the Palace... Marjorelle Gardens (Yves St Laurent's Home)... Palm Dessert with its exclusive homes... lunch... Souk shopping again... the leather jacket story... capped off with a fabled Moroccan feast and belly dancer...

Thank you Jesus for another day and waking us up in our own right minds. The tour was enlightening. The gardens touched Melanie in a special way. Holly was cold, and I thank the Lord for finding my glasses.

-Jim

Day 6
March 6, 2002

FLYING TO THE COTE de IVOIRE

Ivory Coast provided an immediate contrast of weather and culture from Morocco. An accommodating Moroccan handler helped us to our plane and waived good-bye. Upon landing, an ever so genteel, easy-going Ivory Coaster stuck his head in our plane to greet us. The Ivory Coast's equatorial, tropical weather at 90 degrees subdues activity. People here appear busy but at a slower pace than Morocco.

At the Ivoire Intercontinental Hotel, we met with approximately 20 Rotarians at Cocody Rotary Club and heard from the Ivory Coast Minister of Education about Rotary's partnership project with Abidjan schools. It will bring in professionals to improve education in 96 schools.

We no longer think about how long it feels that we've been away from our bustling lives at home. Instead with our cleared minds and free spirits, who can even remember the bustling life style we've left at home?

-Jerome

Day 7
March 7, 2002

GENE'S BIRTHDAY - FLYING TO CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

We had over a seven-hour flight at 41,000 feet. My birthday began with a birthday breakfast aboard the plane of fruit and apricot pastry. Next I sat back and enjoyed a favorite movie, "Six Days and Seven Nights" on the laptop computer. The highlight was that I received a beautiful birthday card, air mailed and hand delivered by Phyllis! We lunched in the air on French bread ham and cheese sandwiches. When we landed in Liebreville, Gabon for refueling, the atmosphere was a bit somber. We could take no photographs, and airport personnel escorted us to the bathroom and stayed with us every minute. We left rapidly. Our next refueling stop was in Namibia, Windhoek. There wasn't much going on besides the passengers exercising.

When we landed in Cape Town, they broomed us out to the adjacent military base due to 45,000 bicyclists in town for a race. We were wisked back to the hotel and had another birthday dinner which included a single piece of cake with a candle on it and two Heinekins. And then, I was ready for bed.

-Gene

Day 8
March 8, 2002

SIGHTSEEING IN CAPE TOWN

The nautical Commodore Hotel... Table Mountain... Signal Hill... Robbins Island Prison... Shopping... Alfred and Victoria Wharf...

I had by land, by sea, by air, and I'm not talking about air. Tonight's dinner included a little of it all. It started out with the best and sweetest oysters I ever had in my life, followed by local line fish too good to be believed (even I was inspired). Jerome shared his three-pound lobster with everyone and Bobbie passed over some of her ostrich. My question is – can an ostrich fly? If not, I was mistaken about the air part of my statement. Throughout dinner we were serenaded by local African natives chanting on the dock. Ta Ta, for now!

-Dennis