Sunday, July 26

Gonzaga's reflections on his safari

I only knew Gonzaga a few years but he touched my heart like he did everybody he knew. He became a dear friend and I am overwhelmed with sadness at our loss.

He loved to travel and was always on the go. His trip to Africa must have been a very special treat for him. He left us happy and we will always be better for having known him.

I think you will all like to know in his own words about his last big experience on this earth. This is what he wrote about his Safari.

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I just returned from my safari.

Was a great experience.

Went to Tsavo National Park in Kenya.

Spent the night in a great lodge where elephants, buffaloes, zebras and
others were coming for water.
Saw many many elephants - males and females and babies.

Saw 3 lions.

That is a treat. One was walking right side by side our safari van. She did
not seem to be bothered. She just glanced at our car and continued
majestically for a bit and then decided that she was going to rest. Then she
just sat and dozed a few times, yawned and watched us.

The other two were a bit far away on top of a rock. A male and a female.
This was on our early morning drive. We left the lodge at 6:20 AM. One cool
thing is that all the safari drivers are in radio contact with each other.
That is how they let the others know if they see a big cat. Then all the
drivers charge to that place.

We saw gorgeous Masai giraffes, impalas, other members of the antelope
family, ostriches, etc.

I wish I could stay there for a few more days. The drive was interesting -
going through the dirt roads.

We had an interesting experience with an elephant and her baby. She was
right in the middle of the road and when our car approached the area, the
mother elephant refused to move and stood her ground. We waited for a while
and when we sort of advanced, she was not happy and showed a stance of
charging. We reversed quickly and left. The elephant let us know who was the
boss. In this case the wild animal won.
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His friend,
Nicholas Antoniou