a simple soul…

In 1981 I was travelling East Africa. Life was easy for me! On my way to Uganda I stayed at Lake Baringo, the northernmost lake in the beautiful Rift Valley, at the threshold of northern Kenya. The lake lies off the beaten tracks, in an area that was little affected by tourism. The lake itself was truly beautiful, surrounded by volcanic ranges that stretched as far as the eye could see. A t the lake heart, I noticed several small islands: they were worth a visit! Nowadays there are boat trips ideal for bird or hippo watching, but then nothing similar was available (thanks God!). I could nothing but hiring one of those little, unsafe canoes that natives - the Njemps tribe - make use of. I approached a young and smiling kid who owned a canoe and - after a long, funny and friendly dealing - we sailed to a rocky island home to his relatives. It was a bit exhausting for me to paddle under the hot African skies and, despite my young vigour and the insane feeling of being part of a Karen Blixen’ tale, I was damned thirsty! I had carefully avoided to drink the lake freshwater, notoriously polluted by bilharzias. As matter of fact, I could hardly stand my thirst when we finally get the tiny island. Nothing there, but a couple of rustic huts where my guide’s relatives lived. He asked water for me and I got it: it was such a muddy water… I drank it and I drank it, again! We rested for a while, I presented my hosts a brand new pack of biscuits, we had a precarious conversation about the tribe I belonged to, ( “Italy” was my simple answer…) and then was time to say “good-by” , getting back to the mainland…
Such an unforgettable day, as unforgettable is the taste of the water I swallowed! On the way back, my smiling guide –recklessly- explained to me, that the very famous water came straight from the lake! I’m such a simple soul…