Goodbye Kilimanjaro and Tanzania, June 5, 2024, Ray M

Goodbye Kilimanjaro and Tanzania

Leisure day at hotel, farewell to Tanzania

Outbound to Iringa,, June 5, 2024
By: Ray M

We spent our last night in Tanzania at the Maasailand Safari Lodge in Arusha.

Mark and Carol S had an early flight so left very early in the morning.  The rest of us had the evening flight on KLM so we had all day to relax.

Later in the afternoon, the rest of us gather to leave:

Leaving Masailand, on our way to the airport

One last look at the sights of Arusha ,,,

Arusha sights (upper-right: Post Office building - its walls curve!)

Just before the airport, we stop for a debrief session with Amos Lufumbilo (owner of Migration Venture Africa, our safari company)

On the turnoff to JRO (Kilimanjaro International Airport), our final view of Kilimanjaro

Our last view of Kilimanjaro

In Friendship and Peace

Farewell to Kiel, Sept 21, 2018, Ray M

Goodbye!

Auf Wiedersehen

Outbound to Leuven & Kiel, Day 24 of 24, September 21, 2018
By:  Ray M

Each of us said goodbye to our Kiel hosts and went in various directions – the end of the formal Journey and start of independent touring or just getting back home.

At the Farewell dinner last night, Jens (Kiel FF President) said it, and Inga (Kiel FF ED) said it, and Marty (our ED) said it. But I’ll say it again – the week went by so quickly, we’ve made all these wonderful new friends and now it is already time to go.

PJ and I took the train to Hamburg, on our way to search for the villages where my Great-Great-Great grandparents lived.  We had no problems with our short train trip, but a few did . . . 

Kathy & Bill D - 

We left for the Hamburg airport at 9:15 an hour early and it turned out to great planning because we spent it parked on the autobahn because of this serious accident.  We made the airport with plenty of time to spare.

Marty – 

Inauspicious beginning.  Train to Hamburg 10 min. late.  Elevator not working to platform 5, so carried luggage down the steps.  Train moved to platform 8.  Only door open was car 24, my seat in car 21.  Whistle blew as I was getting on train.  Took my luggage through 4 cars to my seat - sweaty and shaky.  Then came an announcement the train will be 45-60 min late getting into Berlin due to an accident train rerouted.  But the train’s WIFI works.

Terry – 

I missed my train to Berlin from Hamburg due to the change to track 8, which I didn’t catch. (So also lost my seat assignment). Caught a later train which will also be delayed one hour arriving in Berlin. At least now I know why...

That's all I've heard about so far - I hope all of our other Ambassadors are having safe travels and I'm look forward to exchanging stories with everyone when we get back.

In Friendship and Peace

Kiel, Sept 20, 2018, Bill D

Kiel Opera House - view from the stage!

 

Farewell Party – Goodbye to our new friends in Kiel, Germany

Outbound to Leuven & Kiel, Day 23 of 24, September 20, 2018
By:  Bill D

Kiel Opera House

The day started with a tour of the magnificent Kiel Opera House.  That had seen rebuilt in 1956 after WWII replacing the original one built in 1906.  Germany has more opera houses than the rest of the world combined because in olden times, every Baron wanted his own.

Our big chance - we're on stage!

Orchestra pit - we were cautioned not to fall in

The stage was 100 feet front to back and the orchestra pit was about 15 feet deep.  I sure wouldn’t want to make a misstep and fall in. 

Set building

Set building

The set building area reminded me of my Dutch grandfather’s cabinet shop.  The quality of workmanship was amazing. 

Costume Shop

Fat costumes in case you need to add some weight 

Or maybe a happy piggy?

The costume storage “closet” had 40,000 for men and 20,000 for women and one indispensable man that had them cataloged in his brain. 

Practice Practice Practice!

The young dancers were practicing moves that defied gravity.

Kiel University 

A Kiel shopping mall

After a tour of a beautiful nearby shopping mall we were treated to a special lunch at Kiel University with about 300 students.  Ulrich is a very well respected professor of economics there and was greeted by a number of his colleagues.

Lunch at Kiel University

Farewell Party – Goodbye to our new friends in Kiel, Germany

The evening was full of goodbyes and thanks.  Once again showing the reason for Friendship Force.

A renown local singer played lots of good German (and American) songs at Restaurant Neeth

In Friendship and Peace

Leuven to Aachen, Sept 10, 2018, Helen F

[PHOTOS coming]

Leuven to Aachen

Outbound to Leuven & Kiel, Day 13 of 24, September 10, 2018
By:  Helen F

We said goodbye to our friends in Belgium.  10 of us took the train to Aachen, Germany.

Farewell at the Trier train station: PJ, Edith, Etienne, Ray, Griet, Chris, Emily, Michel

Last goodby through the train window: Michele, Etienne, Edith

Aachen

The throne of Charlemagne and other German monarchs.  Very rustic, but they say the marble was « taken » from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem

I had fun exploring the whimsical public art here, and got the whole history lesson on Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor who was born here and was buried here in 814.  We toured the cathedral and saw where he and 31 German kings and 12 queens were crowned.

The cathedral was constructed between 768 and 800.  This dome is one of the oldest parts but the mosaics are modern — and stunning

The fountain is called « The Circulation of Money »

This evening Marty, Emily, Chris and I went to an a cappella concert in one of the churches.

In Friendship and Peace

Tags/Labels:  Belgium, Leuven, Aachen, Outbound

Leuven Farewell Party, Sept 9, 2018, Barbara B

Some of the Sacramento FF Ambassadors at farewell. Do you have the other picture with everyone in front of the restaurant?? If so please send to Ray

Leuven Farewell Party in Hoegaarden

Outbound to Leuven & Kiel, Day 12 of 24, September 9, 2018
By:  Barbara B

Today is our last full day in Leuven, the day of our farewell party with our wonderful hosts and farewell to an interesting city. The weather is perfect to explore a bit more of the area. Today is also Monuments day, where many closed historic sights are open for tours.

We had an especially exciting morning because our host, Lieve, has a friend, Richard, who owns a castle –and we got to meet him and tour the castle.  Richard bought the Kasteel van Ordingen about 20 years ago and has been restoring it since then making it as authentic as possible; it is now nearly finished. There are many castles in Belgium and this one is hundreds of years old, built before the French Revolution.

Kasteel van Ordingen

Richard, the castle owner, and my host, Lieve

Barbara, Richard, Helen, Kathy

The castle was damaged in WW II by bombs and Nazi occupation, and the owners have changed many times over the years. Lieve's friend, Richard, and his wife, Miet, will make it a 5 star hotel and restaurant when the spa and pool are finished. There are many huge buildings as part of the castle and a moat with bridge, with large koi swimming in the moat. There were public tours in Flemish and many people took advantage of Monuments Day to tour the castle.

Another view from inside the castle grounds

After lunch at the castle we headed to Hoegaarden for a walk around town and the farewell party. There were speeches given by the HC Dani and by our AC Marty and gifts were exchanged.

Marty presents FFSAC gift tofrom our club to a charity in Benin, Africa

Greta and Dany presentation to Marty

A wonderful meal was served along with beer or wine and dessert. One of the hosts, Mikel, and his ambassador Emily favored us with songs and This Land is Our Land was sung by all. Many hugs and invitations to visit us in Sacramento were exchanged as we bid farewell to our hosts and Belgium.

In Friendship and Peace

Open Day and Farewell Lunch, Oct 31, 2017, Ray M

Open Day and Farewell Lunch

Inbound from Toronto Canada, Day 7 of 8, October 31, 2017
By:  Ray M

The Farewell lunch party was held at Plates Cafe in Sacramento. More about that below.
But it is Halloween, so many came dress for the occasion:

Derek, Anne & Jean

First, we ate - a very nice buffet prepared by Plates.

Next, the entertainment!

Toronto FF Club Presentation

Toronto FF Club sang 3 songs for us - a really nice job too, especially considering this was their first rehearsal!

The one with the red nose is the choir-master

I tried to follow along but couldn't

Sacramento FF Club Presentation

In lieu of Sacramento's presentation, we heard three very touching testimonials from Plates staff -- how their lives were being turned around by the help and opportunity they get at Plates (link).






Afternoon was open with hosts. Derek and Anne went with Andy N to the Crocker Art Museum.

Dinner with hosts.


Trick or Treat with hosts at home or other Halloween activity.

In Friendship and Peace

Oct 12 - Gifu Farewell, Gifu Japan, Oct 12, 2017, Pat G

Outbound to Gufu + Tokyo Japan, Day 9 of 19, October 12, 2017

Gifu Farewell, Off on a Bus Tour

Farewell Gifu, start Kyoto/Nara tour. Depart by bus for Shirakawago and Kanazawa. Din on our own.
Thursday October 12 Farewell to our hosts!

Group 1:  

By:  Pat G and Johanna B

Saying goodbye is always an emotional time in Friendship Force. Our bus was waiting for us at 9 am and an English speaking guide provided by Japan Travel Bureau to help us explore Kanazawa. But first we had to hug, say thank you, cry, and repeat it over and over again. In fact as I am writing this I have tears in my eyes😢. I truly never thought I would make it to Japan let alone have the experience of staying in a Japanese home and living their life for a week.  

Before we arrived at the 🚌 we took the children to preschool. Mai, our 5 years old , went into her preschool crying, telling her teacher she was crying because Jo and Pat were leaving! 

Our bus left and headed to Shirakawa-go Village, a designated UNESCO site as of 1995. 

This is a village of large A-frame homes with steeped peaked thatched roofs.  The roofs last 50-100 years. The homes themselves last 250 years.

The income from this village was generated from the production of silk worms to silk. This village was never bombed during WWII because it did not have major industry, just the silk worm industry . 

We drove through multiple tunnels on our way through mountainous regions to this village, including one tunnel that was 6 miles in total length!

After lunch, a view of the entire village from above, 

we headed to Kanazawa, close to the Sea of Japan. Hotel is the Holiday Inn, lovely accommodations and we are headed to dinner.

**********

Group 2:

By Roz W.

Goodbye to our Hosts and Japanese Home 

Today is sad for us as we say goodbye to our wonderful new friends, Kiyoko-san and Hiro-san.  They have both been hospitable, gracious, and have taken excellent care of us. We are not alone in our appreciation of the unique, and well planned, experience that the Friendship Force Gifu Club has provided for us as a group and as individuals in their homes.

Kiyoko-san and Hiro-san have shared their home, prepared meals for us, helped us with the laundry,  laughed with us, answered numerous questions for us, played games with us; and today they were the first friends with whom we shared the joyful news we received of our fourth grandchild being born!

We are simultaneously happy and sad.  Happy, happy  for news that all is well with mommy and baby.  Sad, sad, to say goodbye to our friends here in Gifu.  

Happy, happy that our Gifu friends will be coming to Sacramento next fall.  Anxious, anxious to return home to be with family and welcome our newest family member and hug all of the rest, but that will have to wait until we return home in 12 days.

Today, we are off again with our Sacramento journey group in a chartered tour bus to Kanazawa, via Shirakawa-go, UNESCO World Heritage Site of a Traditional Village, Shirakawa-go

Two Friendship Force leaders from the Gifu club are accompanying our group.  We have a big bus in which we are all luxuriously spread out and have an English speaking tour guide, Miwa-sun.

It is drippy, misty today as we begin to climb the mountains.  We are a little over 3,000 feet elevation in the valley of Shirakawa-go. The mountains continue climb upward.  Several meters of snow carpet the village every year.

Today there is no snow and the trees are displaying their fall colors. 

We arrived around 11:45, and spent a couple of hours wandering through the picturesque village and having lunch at a local restaurant.  Enjoy the photos below:

In Friendship and Peace