Turning Pages at Sheba Café: My 101st Session
The Car Free Zone in Biryogo has a rhythm of its own—bustling, vibrant, yet somehow calming once you step into Sheba Café. It was here that I held my 101st book club session, a milestone that quietly reminded me of how far this journey has come.
Unlike the larger gatherings we sometimes host, this session was intimate, just three of us around the table. I’ve always cherished smaller groups. With fewer voices, each participant has space to ask questions, reflect deeply, and share ideas without hurry. It’s in such settings that conversations flow freely, weaving together personal insights and new perspectives.
This time, we turned the pages of Five Days and Four Nights with Beyond the Gorillas Experience (BGE), a booklet that chronicles my five-day tour with BGE. Together, we retraced the journey from start to finish, pausing at the moments that stood out most.
We began with Mount Kabuye. One participant was struck by the description of the summit—villages below glowing like tiny clusters of stars while the night sky unfolded in its full brilliance. For them, the mountain wasn’t just about the hike, but about that invitation to slow down and breathe.
From there, our conversation drifted to Peace Haven Island. Another reader said it was the kind of place they dream of—waking up to birdsong, mist curling over the lake, and mornings that seem to stretch forever. We agreed the island felt like a reminder that rest is as much a part of adventure as movement.
When we reached the section on Mount Bisoke, the discussion took a livelier turn. The climb sounded daunting, and someone admitted they would probably give up halfway. But then we laughed over the payoff—sitting by the crater lake, exhausted but content, enjoying a picnic in the clouds. The effort, we concluded, was part of what made the moment unforgettable.
The unplanned stop in Nyabihu’s tea plantations sparked another round of reflection. We talked about the beauty of unscripted detours and how they often leave the deepest impressions. The simple act of plucking tea leaves alongside workers turned out to be a highlight that carried meaning far beyond the cup.
Rubavu brought us back to urban energy. One participant had visited before and smiled knowingly at the description of its bustling markets, the border crossings with Goma, and the cooling breeze by Lake Kivu. The group noted how the city offered a striking contrast to the quiet trails and islands earlier in the tour.
Finally, we walked together—through words—along the Congo Nile Trail. This part of the conversation felt the most animated. The fishermen, farmers, and artisans along the route reminded us that travel is not just about landscapes, but about livelihoods. Everyone agreed: the real magic of a journey is in the people you meet along the way.
As we closed our books and lingered over the last sips of coffee, it felt clear that the stories had traveled further than the pages. They had sparked memories, longings, and insights that each of us carried out into the streets of Biryogo. And that is the rationale behind the Turning Pages initiative.