In Jinja…
Jinja took us by surprise. The second largest city of Uganda is surprisingly relaxed, quiet and free of the horrible traffic that plagues Kampala. “Main Street” is lined with small shops tugged behind a covered passage way, free of hassle and screaming vendors. Outside on the sidewalk various skills are on display, like seamstresses sewing brightly colored clothes on old Singer machines. Our favorite was an elderly man producing individualized stamps made from wood and rubber. With a tiny razor blade he carved name & address into a little rubber disc, for 2 USD. We could not think of a better souvenir!
On the same street, like in a time warp, Indian shop owners display flat screens and HiFi gadgets. Who was it that advertised and sold lightening cream for black skin with “Be fair is be handsome”?
The 2Friends Guesthouse played a large part in us feeling so much at home in Jinja. Only a short walk from the center, we were in the midst of Jinja suburbia. Here this means like living in a large park with occasional houses thrown in. There was nothing we missed, the staff is caring and the place is perfectly quiet, no music blasting at the pool, an excellent restaurant / bar distant enough from the comfortable rooms. The broadband wireless Internet allowed Heidi to follow and contribute to local politics back in Vienna around the clock.
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