4th May

Today's the day the lockdown relaxes and I feel quite excited to be able to go for a long walk to Remera, which is about a 3 miles walk just out of my district.  I'm also curious about what I will see when I'm out.  Already this morning, someone I work with has posted a picture on a group chat of people pushing to get onto a bus, and obviously not maintaining distance.  It's sad, because they probably desperately need to go to work and earn money.

When I'm out, the roads are heaving just as they were weeks ago, minus the hundreds of motos who are not allowed to take passengers at the moment.  It's a gorgeous sunny day and when I look down over Kigali from various walking points, I'm reminded of all the beauty that's kept me here. I go to a favourite Syrian cafe that myself and the two other volunteers I was very friendly with used to go to.  The owner and staff are pleased to see me, and I them, and he says that business hasn't been too bad as they've been doing takeaways.  He's surprised to hear that the other two went back to the UK, and says they would have been far safer here. In fact, he seems horrified that anyone would want to go back there because of their death toll.

There's plenty of room to sit away from others and he has quite a few customers. It's wonderful to have chips and falafel again.  

On the way back the roads are even busier, everyone is wearing masks and there are police who are reminding people to keep them on, but no one really moves to one side when they pass each other and even with the markers outside shops, people are still standing closer than they should.  I'm thinking I won't make this journey too often, but wait and see whether there's an increase in numbers before I trust the ease up.  I realise I'm really lucky that I'm in a position to be able do this, because many are not.