The Backroads of Ruhango

Rising up from the town of Ruhango is a dirt road that snakes up the hillside to a tree  at the very top of a hill.  That was our goal – to hike up that road to the meandering paths adjoining it and finally reach the tree.  It was a warm morning, but my ever ready friend, Bene, had packed plenty of water for us.

As we left town, the houses and people became fewer and fewer.  Sometimes we were alone, but usually we saw people in the distance walking or working.  A few children tended a goat or cow.  Some walked with us a short distance, chattering in Kinyarwanda and trying out the few English words they learned in school on us.

We passed occasional well-kept  houses.

When we reached the tree, we found it was an avocado tree, loaded with large, ripe avocados, which now are plentiful in the markets.  We spent some time admiring the tree with friendly residents.

On our way down, we sat on a rock ledge and snacked on the trail mix of nuts and raisins that Bene had made for us and enjoyed the lovely views.

And, I stopped to chat with some inquisitive children.  

Back in town, I stopped at a tiny bar to buy two bottles of Primus Citroen, a lemon-flavored beer that Bene and I enjoy when we are together.  I paid for the beer, as well the bottle deposit, which I later got back when I returned the empty bottles.  We took the bottles to the kitchen of Bene’s cute three-room cottage, where Bene made a colorful and tasty lunch for us: omelette, sautéed cabbage and a sorghum (the small red balls that look like beans) salad.  Sorghum is a popular grain in Rwanda and frequently used to make sorghum beer.

So ended a lovely hike and lunch in Ruhango, Rwanda.