Happy 4th of July!

We hope that everyone back in the States is having a wonderful Independance Day full of sun, time on the lake, BBQ, and fireworks! We are having a slightly different celebration here in Tanzania, but are working hard to bring some of the All-American celebration to Tanzania with us!

Last night we toasted at midnight to the 4th of July at a local bar while listening to Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A" in a bar full of Europeans in the middle of the African jungle. And today we are looking forward to some relaxation with the other Americans at the Home Base...maybe even hamburgers (although they will be veggie and kinda African style) and watermelon.

Yesterday we saw the most beautiful view of Kilimanjaron yet, the sky was completely clear and all of the trees around our Home Base framed it perfectly! SOOO pretty and made us so excited for the week ahead. Tomorrow we start our climb of Kilimanjaro (Lauren will be hiking for 2 days, 1 night and Catherine will hike to the summit in 5 days, 4 nights). The first day will be a 3 hour hike and we wil stay in huts along the way each night. The night of the climb to the summit is intense and long as you wake up at 11:30 at night to climb to the top and then spend a few hours climbing back down (it is too cold to stay for long). I am sure we will have tons of stories about our adventure when we return.