Off To Arizona and Super Bowl 49!

It's happening! I'm going to Arizona for the Super Bowl! I'm so excited and SO NERVOUS! My beloved Seahawks are back in SB49 and I'm determined to go this time! My dad and brother went last year, this year the whole family is making the trip! But we don't have tickets to the actual game yet. My parents fly down today so hopefully they'll have some time to figure something out!

Buying my airline ticket was a lesson in both being patient and not dawdling. I had the perfect, direct round trip flight from Seattle in my cart and was in the process of checking out. But I wanted to see if there was a way to use my my air miles and save some money. Unfortunately, that 15 minute delay caused me to lose the flight I was in the middle of purchasing. So frustrating! I decided to give it time, check prices every day until I found one that worked. I was pretty much out of luck on direct flights, but hopefully I could find something that didn't take all day.

Finally, a week later, I found a flight that was in my budget, but had a long travel time home through Denver. 5 and a half hour layover! Oh well, I'll bring stuff to entertain myself. It's worth it to go and for a price that's not unreasonable. And even if we don't get tickets to the game, we will have a great time just being in that environment with everyone else! Now if only they can pull off the repeat!

As Russell Wilson always says, "Go Hawks!"

Lions and Tigers and Elephants, Oh My!

Already I'm failing on my New Years Resolution to blog once a week! How does the time go so fast?? To be fair, I had the flu last week and could barely function, let alone form coherent sentences. But I'm healthy again, AND I've got an update on our trip to Tanzania! We have booked our safari! Woohoo! We decided to go through Good Earth Tours as I'd read a lot of good reviews on the company. It's not cheap, but it was the best itinerary I could find for everything we wanted to do and see. We're also staying in lodges instead of camping. We considered camping to save money, as neither of us is put off by the idea, but we decided that after spending 8 days climbing a mountain and sleeping on the ground, we deserved a bit more luxurious accommodations. Our rooms are by no means considered luxury, but in comparison to the ground, it will definitely seem that way to us!

One thing I've noticed in my interactions with both Zara Tours (our Kilimanjaro guides) and Good Earth Tours is that they respond really fast! No matter what day I ask a question, I will have a response the next. It's been wonderful and far less stressful than I had imagined communication to be. Anyway, our tour is below. I'm so excited I can't wait!

Day 1 (July 20, 2015): Moshi / Arusha / Tarangire

Today we will pick you up from your hotel in Moshi at around 08:00am. After briefing, we drive to Tarangire National Park with picnic lunch; the park is renowned for its large elephant population. 

Day 2 (July 21): Tarangire / Ngorongoro

Another game drive safari in Tarangire; then later in the day we drive to overnight in Ngorongoro.

Day 3 (July 22): Ngorongoro / Serengeti

Descend into Ngorongoro Crater for game drives in the Crater, exploring the short-grass plains of the crater floor. This extinct volcano embraces 100sq miles alive with lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, buffalo, and many more games. Later in the day we drive to overnight in Serengeti.

Day 4 (July 23): Serengeti

Game drives safari in the Serengeti exploring the rolling plains of Serengeti National Park in search of the large predators and the gentle herbivores, on which they feed.

Day 5 (July 24): Serengeti (North)

Game drives safari in the Serengeti exploring the rolling plains of Serengeti National Park in search of the large predators and the gentle herbivores, on which they feed.

Day 6 (July 25): Serengeti / Lake Manyara

After breakfast, we will have another game drive in Serengeti, and then drive to overnight in Lake Manyara with an optional visit to a Masai Village and optional visit of Olduvai Gorge.

Day 7 (July 26): Lake Manyara (Safari or Cultural tour) / Arusha / Zanzibar

Morning game drive safari in Lake Manyara Park. The park is home to colorful birds, elephants, zebras, giraffe, hippos antelopes, and other animals.

ALTERNATIVELY (instead of game drive safari in Manyara): After breakfast, we drive to nearby Mto wa Mbu area to do an approximately two hours cultural tour which will include visiting banana/rice plantations as well as walking safari with traditional healers who will explain the medicinal values of the indigenous plants.