Day 3: Kigali

Thursday, August 1st - Kigali, Rwanda

Today was our Kigali day! We didn't visit any cooperatives, but instead went to craft markets, Hotel des Milles Collines (Hotel Rwanda), and the new Marriott.

The first craft market we went to located about 15 minutes away from our hotel. Set up in. parking lot type space, there were numerous stalls adjacent to each other, overflowing with crafts! Baskets, bags, art, jewelry, drums, sculptures...everything you could imagine! Before getting off the bus, Justin gave us a little crash course on how to barter with the shop owners, emphasizing to consult him before making a purchase. Being a local, he knows a rip-off when he sees one, so he ensures us that he would help get the fairest price for our goods of choice.

Next week, we will be visiting our own craft-making cooperative, Twiyubake, so today the goal was to only purchase things that our women do not make. That way we can give them our best business!

Boncing from stall to stall, trying to politely turn down the insistent "Sister! Come in my shop!" or "Excuse me madame, right in here! Fair prices!". It was great fun ~ and we have some beautiful goodies to show for it.

Next we headed to the historic Hotel des Milles Collines (most of you know it as "hotel Rwanda") for lunch. During the Rwandan Genocide of 1994, this hotel became a refuge for over 1,200 people, thanks to the courage of hotel manager Paul Rusabagina. The hotel has since been restored, and is a stunning destination for its visitors.

We sat outside, surrounded by blooming plumeria and gardenia trees, just meters from the crystal blue pool. Sipping on fresh passion fruit juice, we ate our fill at the gorgeous buffet.

We walked a few blocks to another craft market, attached to a Catholic Church. We shopped around for a bit, and then continued our stroll along the bustling Kigali streets to the Marriott Hotel.

This stunning hotel is only a few years old and is home to a beautiful boutique called GoKigali, which showcases high-end crafts, jewelry, and clothes from all over Africa. We didn't come to shop, but instead to see the baskets that our cooperative, Twiyubake, was commissioned to make.

Before leaving, we took a quick walk to the pool, where the landscaping made you feel like you were in the jungle. Although we had spent the day at some of the nicest hotels here, we were very happy to return to our own little home base, Beausejour.

To end the day, we were treated to a special visit from the families of our Rwanda Team! Justin's wife Alice brought their three children, Abby, Joseph, and Besty, and Dany came with his wife Mediatrice and their two little ones, Miriam and Joshua. A delightful way to end a lovely day!