Zimbabwe!

     Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. One of the seven Natural Wonders of the World. The largest waterfall on Earth. A minuscule part of you cannot help but to think "so what? It's just a big waterfall; what's so special about it?"
     It is appalling. Landing in Zimbabwe the first day, we could see the reflective mist rising above the Falls from miles away. Then by foot, we approached Victoria Falls with enthusiasm and youthfulness, embracing the water as its gargantuan splash literally soaked us from the extreme pressure of it falling. Constant rainbows consumed the air. They refer to the magic as "the smoke that thunders" and I could not agree more. Truly a wonder. 
     The Zambezi River leads to Victoria Falls, as well as continues after it, and serves as the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, connecting Botswana as well. We enjoyed a beautiful sunset cruise along the Zambezi River one night, peaking out at wildlife on the sides along the way. The locals who lived at the backpackers (hostel) we stayed at hosted a Braii just for us with local instruments and delicious food. We dined at local favorites including In-Da-Belly, The Boma, and Mama Africa, which included live music, dancing, and even eating worms! We took a helicopter ride over the falls, taking advantage of the only way to physically see the entire Falls at once since they are so intensely wide, too wide to see all at once from the ground. We shopped at local markets, being offered to buy their currency, ranging to Zillion Dollar Bills, since their economy collapsed in 2009 and they now use the U.S. Dollar as their official currency. I once again asked endless questions about their culture, from religion to politics, women's rights, education, and just happiness. We sat in on a local group's band practice, essentially receiving a free private show/jam sesh. We spent a day just lounging along the side of the Zambezi River, me studying for my last final exam this upcoming Friday while my lucky done-with-finals friends simply soaked in the sun. Our adventure was spontaneous, adventurous, thought-provoking, relaxing, and a perfect choice for part of our last week on this extraordinary continent. Now for our last four days in Cape Town, and then for the rest of forever with these memories and experiences always lingering in our minds.