Kilimanjaro Diaries

Or, How I Spent a Week Dreaming of Toilets, Drinking Crappy Water, and Making Bad Jokes While Having the Time of My Life

De: Eva Melusine Thieme

Narrado por: Vanessa Johansson

When expat blogger and mother of four Eva Melusine Thieme first harbors the idea of ringing out her three years in Africa on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, it sounds easy. In fact, it has all the trappings of a dream vacation: no cooking, no fighting kids, and an army of porters to lug everything up the mountain. What can go wrong?

Tag along as Eva takes you on her journey up the slopes of Kilimanjaro together with her teenage son and a group of hilarious South African friends. From planning the trip to shopping for supplies to trudging uphill wishing with all her heart for an ice cold sip of water untainted by chlorination tablets, you will follow her step by step on her quest to scale the world's highest free-standing mountain. But the list of challenges is long: sub-zero temperatures, blistered feet, long drop toilets (of which, you may learn, the drops are not nearly as long as they had once been, if you get the drift), and the ever-threatening altitude sickness no one can quite escape from. Eva's climb turns into the most difficult test she has ever faced, and ultimately she must make a fateful decision on that mountain.

Thieme's debut travel memoir is equally poignant and laugh-out-loud funny. Part guide book, part travel memoir, and part history lesson, her story will keep you hooked - whether you're a seasoned hiker nodding your head in recognition, an aspiring Kilimanjaro trekker searching for tips, or an armchair traveler reveling in adventure stories from the comfort of your home.

©2014 Eva Melusine Thieme (P)2018 Tantor

Terrific story

This is a well written and entertaining account of climbing one of the world's greatest mountain. Highly recommended for anyone planning to take this journey or who just wants to experience almost firsthand what it is like. It's funny, witty, full of sarcasm and humor. Love it!

Entertaining and real

The author doesn’t mince words in describing the challenges of climbing Kilimanjaro, but makes the trek sound doable and worthwhile for (almost) everyone.

You will definitely have your toileting questions answered! (We all have those questions, don’t we…)

A little bit Guide and a little bit narrative

I enjoyed this adventure tale told by a “regular” person who has every-person worries and life challenges. I empathized, smiled, chuckled, and learned a bit. The little bit guidebook is where the author focuses on very specific details such as the ins and outs of different medications available for altitude sickness. It’s all interesting but pauses the story.

Delightful Journey Full of Practical and Profound Wisdom

This book takes you on an amazing journey beyond the tips and good advice for climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. It captured my attention with humor and insight. I would recommend this book to all readers who wish to take an adventure of the mind and soul.

Good story

Good story and well read, although I could have done without all the anecdotal side thoughts which were emphasized by the reading style.