Chinhoyi is a town about 3 hours away (toward Harare) - 1.5 hours of which are the dirt road. It is the largest town for miles (or kms I should say) and home to the provincial hospital. The dirt road here is very dusty and very very bumpy. I'm talking swinging side to side, up and down bumpy. For me it was exciting on the way there because I had not seen this area on the way in (because it was dark). Along the way we passed through different townships where people are walking around, sitting in front of shops. The shops look like and old town, the buildings are simple, spread apart and falling apart. Each township seems to have the same shops- for some reason Investments shops are popular (I'm not sure what kind of investments) and bottle shops (it says bottle shop on the front). I was told they sell sodas and liquer. And I have come to find soda here usually means coke, maybe coke zero or coke light (diet coke)- they love sugar here!, or Fanta grape or orange.
Aside from seeing the townships, huts and fields are visible from the road. The same huts that one can see walking away from the hospital- round brick bases and thatched roofs. Some also have a small rectangle building with a metal roof. People are always walking along the road here, men, women, children. Even when we were driving back after 11pm last night there were occasionally people walking along the road. Everyone looks at who is driving by and then (I am presuming it is because we are white) they wave at us. We all wave back.There are randomly (seem random to me of course) placed bus stop signs along the way. They are usually hung from trees, made out of anything available- cardboard, old tires and painted bus stop on them. We passed herds of cattle laying by the side of the road or trying to pass. They are so large and the bull's horns just remind me of the poor old man who got impaled in the rear the first week I was here (he has since been discharged from the hospital and is doing well).
Probably my favorite part along the way were the soccer fields. They are just like they show in movies sometimes. "Fields" of dirt with goal posts at each end (maybe during the rainy season there is grass? I need to ask). The goal posts that I have seen are made out of anything. At the school they are metal pipes, along the way they were tall sticks stuck in the ground with Y shapes at the top to hold the crossbar. There is something so fun about there being nothing around here except soccer fields.
Once we finally arrived at the caves, we all walked down into the first one called "the sleeping pool." I was told that they were not tight spaces (I was not willing to repeat my experience of the tunnels that I had in Israel). We descneded into the cave on very steep stone stairs. I regretted leaving my torch (flashlight) in the car but the other girl that is staying here, Jordan had her phone to light the way. As we went down and turned the corner, the cave opened up and there was a large tree with very green leaves and below, a "pool" with the deepest, bluest water I have EVER seen. I was mesmorized staring at the water hidden in the cave. Above, the cave is open to the blue sky, in front of you over the pool, the cave continues into the darkness, impossible to see how far. We could see some fish swimming around near the shore, and we were able to go down next to the water. Apparently they have scuba diving lessons there which I would have loved! They have not been able to find the bottom of the pool, and many people here say that it connects to Lake Kariba but I think that is just a myth, they really don't know where it goes.
As we were making our way back up, high school kids were coming down in their uniforms. As they got close, one of the boys said, "wow THIS is in Africa. I love Zimbabwe!" I thought he captured it perfectly.
The next cave we went in was slightly darker and twisted and turned more. They did have old lights hanging from the ceiling to light the way. This cave also had a pool in it, also a very pretty blue but it was not as easy to see (only a viewing point) and the top of the cave was not opened to the sky like the other one. The caves themselves are not that exciting compared to other caves one can go in around the world but the water is so beautiful. I still can't believe that first cave and pool.
When we walked out of the caves, the school kids were leaving too. A bunch of the students kept asking Jordan and I if we would take pictures with them. Pictures with white Americans are very exciting!
After the caves we sat outside at the hotel there (Chinhoyi Caves Motel) where we would later be having dinner. We drank our soda (coke, coke zero, or fanta) outside. The weather was so beautiful once again. Two monkeys were climbing around. I was hesitant to get excited about their presence after the very mean monkeys in Malaysia but I was told these ones were nice. Then I was excited to see them! I love seeing all of the animals here.
After we had dinner inside. Everyone had changed to look "smart" for the awards. Dr. Kajesi was wearing a white suit and white shoes. He and his wife looked quite smart! It was a buffet dinner and Major had to explain to everyone what it was. They had sudza of course (people here eat it 3 meals a day). I had it once last week and I had put sriracha sauce on it which was really good. They happened to have this really hot chili sauce on the table (peri peri sauce) and I put it on. Dr. Kajesi who was sitting across from me couldn't believe it that I liked it. He even yelled down the long table for Major to look. Major does NOT like spicy things like most people here.
The awards were really nice- Sister McCarty got her award for being at the hospital for 30 years!! 5 others, including 1 other for 30 years were given.
Then we tried to leave- which took a very long time of course and finally returned home late. On the way home the dirt road seemed even worse under the lights of the car. As we were coming back, and the road seemed endless, I realized how far far away from everything we really are out here. The best part of the way back was the donkey laying in the middle of the road that refused to move. (it was a cute donkey like the one in Shrek).
Hope everyone is doing well!
In the cave by the Sleeping Pool
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