Trampled by an ostrich: Everyday events around the office, including a fire drill!

Another gorgeous sunset as we head home from work around 5 pm.

The fading flowers and that blue sky

Favorite view of Tana from the patio, framed by the Royal fig tree

Looking through the ferns at the houses below

We had a "fire drill" on Monday. This is one of the "escape route" doors, to be used in case of emergency evacuation. But it opens to a long drop-off to a ledge below...we'd all get broken legs trying to escape!

The other escape gate, across from the office door.

Through the gate, you climb down these steep steps...Picture us carrying bags and back packs with (supposedly) emergency rations inside, including heavy water bottles. I hate to admit that my bag was...empty! (except for some money).

Then down the smaller steps to the dark gate to the left of the white shed...

Steps and dark gate closer up...

On the other side of the gate, you find yourself in a banana farm. I was not through the gate when I took this pic so it's not completely accurate, but it's like suddenly being in a jungle world, with no civilization nearby...

There were workers carrying bundles on their heads up dirt steps in the banana farm. They said, "This is private property. What are you doing here?"

We walked along a narrow dirt path to a fence. In order to go further to the eventual goal of the road up above, the fence had to be broken down. Some of us (me included) went back at that point. A couple of missionaries broke it down and went through, but could never find their way up to the road. They got a lot of sticker burrs all over their pant legs.

The "fire drill" should have been videotaped. Very funny. Of course, it had a serious purpose. The Presidential elections are coming soon, and who knows...(but I'll be home by then.)

This is one of our gate guards, Fanampy, the father of my small friend Josepha. You can always spot him from afar by the long visor on his cap. And big smile.