Rosamond Carr: a very special lady.

I have to tell you a bit about Roz Carr, you can read more about her in her book, Land of a Thousand Hills: my life in Rwanda.  Roz was an amazing lady, she came to first Congo and then Rwanda in 1949 and lived most of her life, quite a bit of it alone,  managing a large pyrethrum plantation not too far from Busasamana.  In fact she was here over 50  years, living through the turmoils of independence, becoming a republic, the early genocides and possible that same year returned to her home, which had been virtually destroyed and realized the need for an orphanage which she swiftly arranged, using the old pyrethrum drying building as a dormitory.  In 1998, when insurgents from Congo were too close for comfort, Ros, her staff and the children moved into Gisenyi for safety.  Ros returned to her home in 2005 and died in 2006 aged 94, she is buried in the garden.  Ros was a friend of Dian Fossey and featured in the film Gorillas in the Mist part of which was filmed on site.
I recommend her book, it is available on Kindle.

Anyway, I took a day out yesterday and went to visit Ros' home which now retains the name of the orphanage and welcomes visitors as a means of keeping the foundation going.

This was the pyrethrum flowers drying shed,  After the genocide the building was repaired and turned into a domitory for the orphans whom Roz cared for.  This is David who, as a small boy used to visit Roz with the other local children and worked with her at the orphanage.  He now takes people around the grounds.

Roz's charming house

View of the garden from the terrace

The old pots were made by the Batwa people who are known for their pottery, they are hunter gatherers and live in the forests. When I was at school they were called 'pygmies' although not as small as those in Congo. They were a very small percentage of the population here, and I think nowadays are included as Rwandese.

This is Eric my driver / tour guide.  I had to take pics for his website.  He'is an excellent guide and has all the essential qualifications and very good English.

According to David, this view of the Hydrangea bordered path was featured in the film Gorillas in the Mist.

During the years Roz lived here people would come for tea on Sunday afternoons and the local chidren would dance the tradional dances.    These dances still occur on the last Sunday of each month.  You have to make a reservation though.

When the market price for pyrethrum fell Roz ploughed up the plantation and began growing flowers to sell to the embassies and hotels.  Many flowers and vegetables are still grown here for that purpose.  The pic is of a good crop of artichokes.

We then drove to Gisenyi as I needed to sort my wifi out yet again.  Then Eric managed to lock the keys in the car!  But chaps from the market came to the rescue with a bent coat hanger of course.

Then we went to a great bar on Lake Kivu, it was a splendid place to spend a few hours, I really felt as though I was on holiday.  Cold Primus, grilled tilapia, music blaring forth, families out for the day, youngsters swimming.

Off to Gisenyi this weekend for the hot water and pleasant facilities.  If I don´t go anywhere at the weekends the time really drags.