Through the window, I could see rays of sunlight streaming in. As the sun rose, the sky began to glow. It looked like the beginning of another beautiful day.
It was Sunday, and I had no plans other than watching the FIFA World Cup final at Mundi Center. Kickoff was at 9 p.m., which meant I had an entire day without any planned activity. I had gone to bed early the previous night and enjoyed a good night’s sleep. As a result, I woke up with plenty of energy.
Then I remembered that it was Car Free Day. The City of Kigali had sent me a reminder, or perhaps I should call it an invitation, the day before. I had not participated in the Car Free Day sports extravaganza for quite some time.
I got ready, grabbed a cup of coffee, jumped on my motorcycle, and twisted the throttle toward The Ride Bike Shop in Remera. Without wasting any time, I rented a bicycle and hit the road.
From there, I cycled all the way to the KCC roundabout, through Gisimenti and Gishushu. One lane was reserved for cyclists and skaters, while the other was used by people walking and jogging. We had the whole road to ourselves. Midway through the ride, I found myself thinking, This is fun. I should be doing this more often. Exercising had never felt this good.
The KCC roundabout was a hive of activity. It felt like a workout festival. A multitude of people were moving their bodies through mass aerobics, outdoor gym sessions, calisthenics, and many other activities.
There were young people, children, middle-aged participants, social groups, and entire families. The atmosphere was positive, and the energy was contagious. I felt uplifted and glad that I had kick-started my day the right way: the healthy way.