Namaste from Kathmandu!!

We are all here, safe and sound! Kathmandu is noisy, busy, and exciting! Sarah met us at the airport. She introduced us immediately to Jenga Lama,who is our Nepali guide for the month, and he gave each of us beautiful silk Katas (scarves) to welcome us to Nepal. (Don't worry, I took pictures.) Sarah has been working with Jenga since 2008 and he is a very trustworthy, intelligent man with a kind smile. He speaks excellent English and has already saved the day: when the porters carrying our bags told me I hadn't tipped them enough and I should tip them twenty times more, Jenga told me not to do it!

We checked into our hotel, which is basically clean and at the end of a side street away from the noisy street traffic. Our rooms are airconditioned--a delightful surprise--and my bed, at least, was actually comfortable. The rooms are quirky, with outlets that make me a bit nervous to use, but they are safe and comfortable for the developing world.

We had a few free hours yesterday afternoon which almost everyone spent browsing the cornucopia of tourist goods in the neighborhood,and then we had a sleepy dinner. Amye and I were easily sound asleep by 8:30 pm.

Now, we are off to Everest!