This journey started with a visit to a place so unique, so off-the-beaten-path, that most travelers will have never heard of it.
Erin and I visited it for several reasons, but one of those was that this place like our future home in Tanzania. It has a pre-British Colonial history that still has an influence on life today. In it's day this relatively small city was the capital of one of the wealthiest empire states the world has ever seen. But even today, it's possible to be attacked by wild animals in the heart of the downtown.
The other reason to visit Albany, NY is that it's been the launching point for every trip I've ever made. My folks, and many of my oldest friends still live there. We had a few other rounds of frantic 'Oh my God, this is the last chance to buy___ before moving to Africa' shopping sprees (following similar runs in Colorado, and followed by others in Amsterdam, Paris, and yet another 'last chance' opportunity in the cosmopolitan Cape Town. ).
We had a wonderful time, and it was the first chance Erin and I had to breath after our frantic departure from Denver. We went hiking in the Adirondacks, Mom threw us a Bon Voyage party, and Dad took us to a spectacular bridge over the Hudson river. In Colorado they call it a river if you can't jump over it, so its nice to see what a river that nearly a mile across looks like.
It was great to see so many old friends, and even better to see them doing well.
PS) Getting pictures uploaded and organized from the road is still a challenge. These pictures aren't linked to a broader album yet. I'll fix these, and breath new life into my Flickr account , when I can sit down with a laptop and quicker connection.