Lesotho

Yesterday our country of the day was Lesotho (pronounced Leh-su-too). Obviously this one is out of alphabetical order, but I'm always looking for ways to sneak another African country in. Obviously, it's a large continent, so the food does vary, but not as much as maybe we'd like, so I want to try and space them out (something like 54 of my 193 are African). I look for little reasons to move countries around and yesterday was a national holiday in Lesotho! It was Moshoeshoe Day! 

But, you probably don't know who King Moshoeshoe was, because you might not have ever heard of Lesotho before. But, Moshoeshoe was their founder, who was beloved for being fierce yet fair, and kept this tiny little country, which is surrounded completely by South Africa from ever being taken over (by both the British and the Boers). He was known for showing kindness to his defeated enemies and bringing in whoever he needed to help his people, including white missionaries.  He kept the Basotho people safe (The boys kept making faces, telling me they'd never remember all these words! I was like 'come on it's not that hard King Moshoeshoe saved the Basotho people and preserved the land for Lesotho!') Anyway, because of his contributions, his death date (March 11, 1870) became a national holiday. 

Today the holiday is celebrated in Maseru, the capital city, with a parade full of people in traditional dress riding horses,dancing,  carrying sticks, and even herding bulls makes it way through the streets. But it is also marked with political and ceremonial speeches to encourage the government to do something about alleviating the poverty in Lesotho. It is a country where somewhere around 40% of its people live below the poverty line (that's $1.25 US Dollars a day).

And Poverty isn't Lesotho's only problem. Lesotho has the third highest rate of HIV/AIDS in the world, with roughly 1 out of every 4 people infected. Bill Gates and former president Bill Clinton have both used their foundations to help bring this number from spreading further. 

Lesotho is a safe-ish country to visit, although you still might want to run some red lights at night to avoid car jackers (the police won't care), but the people are welcoming and friendly. 

Lesotho is a small country (it ranks 140th in area), about the size of Maryland. It's often called the 'Kingdom of the Sky' because it has the highest low-point of any country in the world. In fact, the whole country is located over 1000 meters (3,280 feet) above sea level, the only country in the world to hold that distinction. 

And in Lesotho you are surrounded by South Africa, with all of it's Cradle of Humanity, so there's plenty to see in way of early cave drawings and even dinosaur fossils and even fossilized footprints! 

If you visit you can go pony trekking, rocking climbing, or even spend your night in traditional trading posts. You'll see boys hearding sheep, and some people who still wear the traditional Basotho people's hats (shaped like a cones and made from straw with a knot on top). But you'll also have to use their notorious airport, where the runway ends on the edge of a 2,000 foot cliff. 

Our landmark for Lesotho is the Maletsunyane Falls. It's one of the highest single dropping waterfalls in Africa, and it creates a haze at the bottom and is known as the 'Place of the Smoke' as a result. (You can even repel down these falls, yikes!) 

The boys made their postcards. 

Calib made a waterfall with people rock climbing on either side. He also made a pony and some sheep, along with Price Harry (Lesotho and the UK have a rather friendly relationship and Prince Harry visits sometimes), and Bill Gates (for the contributions of his foundation). 

Peyton made the waterfall, and the whole country on a plateu, with a couple of dinosaurs. The Basotho people are also buried in a sitting position (so they can leap up if they are called upon by the spirits of the afterlife), so he has a little guy who has been buried under the headstone. 

Hayden, meanwhile, won my vote because he included King Moshoeshoe. 

For dinner last night we had Lesotho Chakalaka (polenta with a pepper, onion, carrot, and tomato topping), with Makoenva (Lesotho cinnamon rolls), and pears. 

This meal earned three spoons up, sort of. 

Asa liked it, and he gives almost everything a spoons up. Calib and Peyton both gave it a spoons up, but Calib did not like the cinnamon roll, and Peyton ate the polenta but not the topping. Hayden really picked at it, ate his pears and about half his dinner, and while I ate the whole thing, and didn't really mind it, I wouldn't be clamoring to have it again. 

We colored in Lesotho with our new yellow. 

38 countries down, 155 to go! 

Next Up: Lithuania