Live Blog: The Flood That Won’t End

Thursday, 6:30 AM

The day began with chaos. My wife woke me up; something was wrong with the water in the bathroom. By the time I got there, the floor was already flooding. Water gushed from around the toilet pipes and through holes in the tiles, scalding hot. The water heater tank on the roof steamed and hissed ominously.

Water was seeping down the stairs, the kitchen ceiling was dripping on everything below, and the situation was quickly spiraling out of control. I tried to call the landlord, but it was too early for a response. Our cleaner rushed over to help, and eventually, a plumber was called.

The plumber, elderly and speaking mostly French, got stung by a hidden wasp nest on the rooftop. Engineers were called in to assess the damage. Their instructions were clear: pipe repair first, walls and ceilings later. The bathroom became a construction zone, walls demolished, concrete mixed and hauled upstairs, tiles replaced. The work ended around 7–8 PM, but the ceiling below still showed minor leaks.

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Friday & Saturday

For the first time in days, things seemed calm. The water had stopped, and the repairs appeared successful. The burst pipe was under control, and we started to relax, almost.

Saturday morning brought a thunderstorm, but by afternoon, the skies cleared. It seemed like we might finally be out of the woods.

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Sunday morning

Disaster struck again. As I went downstairs to make brunch, a drop of water landed on my shoulder. My slippers squished in a thin layer of water. The leak had returned, this time through a crack in the first-floor kitchen ceiling, directly under the second-floor bathroom where the original pipe had ruptured.

We don’t yet know if this is leftover water from Thursday’s flooding or a new issue, rainwater possibly seeping through cracks. A bucket sits beneath the slow leak, catching each drop.

The landlord suggested waiting until Monday evening to reassess. Patience was once again the only option.

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Monday afternoon

The slow leak persists. Depending on where water is trapped in the walls, it may take time for all of it to escape. The ordeal isn’t over, and the ceiling remains vulnerable.

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Storm Delays (Following Day)

The situation worsened as parts of the kitchen ceiling began to give way, paint and plaster falling due to water damage. Then, the power briefly went out. This time it wasn’t the breaker, but an actual outage.

Outside, the weather turned ominous. Strong winds picked up, the skies darkened, and a heavy thunderstorm rolled in. Rain poured relentlessly, with thunder echoing through the area.

The landlord had arranged for the plumber to return, but due to the storm, he never came. Work effectively stopped as everyone waited for the weather to pass.

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Next Morning: New Findings

The plumber finally arrived the following morning. After inspecting the situation, he made an unexpected discovery: the area where the kitchen ceiling is leaking has no water pipes at all.

This left two possibilities: either residual water from last Thursday’s incident is still trapped and slowly draining, or rainwater is entering through cracks and traveling down into the walls.

The initial plan was to wait two more days. If the leaking didn’t stop, the next step would involve tearing up the tiles on the floor above and digging down into the structure to locate the issue.

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Latest Update: Waiting It Out

As the situation continued, we received a clearer explanation from the landlord after further discussion with the plumber. According to them, there is nothing immediate that can be done about the current slow leak.

The dripping is believed to be caused by a large amount of water that had been trapped inside the walls during the initial pipe rupture. Once the pipe burst and was repaired, that hidden water began slowly making its way out, something we couldn’t see at the time.

Because of this, the current approach is simply to wait and allow all the remaining water to fully drain. Any attempt to repair or repaint now would be pointless, as the moisture would continue to seep through and damage the work again.

The landlord has advised giving it about one more week for the dripping to completely stop. After that, they plan to repair and repaint the affected areas properly. In the meantime, our cleaner, Emmanuel, will continue helping to manage and clean the area.

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Current Status

• Leak: Ongoing (slow, steady dripping)

• Source: Likely trapped residual water inside walls

• Ceiling: Damaged, with peeling paint and falling plaster

• Weather impact: Possible contributing factor

• Next step: Wait approximately one more week before repairs

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What started as a sudden plumbing emergency has turned into a prolonged waiting game. The urgency of the first day has given way to patience and uncertainty, listening to the quiet but persistent drip of water as it slowly works its way out of the walls.

For now, all we can do is wait and hope that this truly is the final chapter of a long and exhausting ordeal.

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Final Update: Repairs Completed

Last week, the landlord arranged for painters to come and repair the damage caused by the water leak. The affected areas were properly restored and repainted, addressing the ceiling and walls that had been impacted during the ordeal.

After days of uncertainty, waiting, and ongoing issues, everything has finally been resolved.

The house is now back to normal.

Update: The Aftermath Continues

Update: The Aftermath Continues

After Thursday’s chaos and the marathon of repairs, Friday and Saturday seemed almost peaceful. The water had stopped leaking, and everything appeared to be improving. The major problem, the burst pipe and flooding, seemed to have been solved. We were finally starting to breathe a little easier.

Then Saturday brought a morning thunderstorm. By afternoon, the skies had cleared, and it seemed like we were in the clear. But Sunday morning greeted us with a new, unwelcome surprise. As I went downstairs to make brunch, I felt a drop of water hit my shoulder. Glancing down, my slippers squished in a thin layer of water. Turning on the light, still dim in the early morning, I discovered the source: water was leaking again through a crack in the first-floor ceiling, directly below the second-floor bathroom where the original pipe had ruptured.

At this point, we aren’t sure whether this is leftover water from the initial flood or a completely new issue, perhaps rainwater finding its way through cracks in the walls and seeping into the kitchen ceiling. For now, we’ve placed a bucket under the leak. Fortunately, the flow is manageable; it’s a slow drip rather than a flood.

The landlord suggested waiting until Monday evening to assess the situation before deciding on the next steps. It’s now Monday afternoon, and the leak continues, slow but persistent. Depending on where the water is trapped inside the walls, it may take some time for all of it to make its way out.

After nearly a week of constant worry, work, and uncertainty, it’s clear that the ordeal isn’t fully over. The initial crisis may be resolved, but the aftermath, water trapped in ceilings and walls, is reminding us just how long these things can linger. It’s been a rough time, and patience has become our only option. 

From Bad to Worse: Today’s Storm

Unfortunately, the situation took a turn for the worse today. The paint and parts of the ceiling in the kitchen began to fall down due to the water leaking from above. Then, the power went out briefly. I went to check the breaker, wondering if it had tripped, but this time, it was an actual power outage, not just a breaker issue.

Outside, a storm began brewing. The wind picked up suddenly, blowing hard, and the skies darkened ominously. Now, as I write this, the thunderstorm has rolled in fully. The rain is coming down hard, the thunder booming around the neighborhood, and the wind rattling the windows.

The landlord has asked the plumber to come back to look into the problem. Unfortunately, I had to postpone my tutoring job, as I have no idea how long it will take for the plumber to arrive. Here, everyone works on “African time,” and when it rains, people often stop and wait for the storm to pass before proceeding. This likely means a further delay before the plumber can assess the situation.

For now, we wait, bucket in place, monitoring the leak as the storm intensifies. I will continue to update as things progress and we learn more. It’s turning into a long, exhausting, and stressful ordeal, one that shows just how quickly a home crisis can spiral, even after the “main problem” seems to be fixed.

A Morning Flood: Our Unexpected Plumbing Ordeal

Thursday morning started like any other, but around 6:30 AM, my wife woke me with urgent news: something was seriously wrong with the bathroom water. I rushed to check, and what I saw immediately made my heart sink. The bathroom floor was already flooding. Water was gushing out from around the toilet pipes and even seeping through holes in the tiles. To make matters worse, it was scalding hot.

Looking up, I noticed the water heater tank on the roof was steaming and making strange, alarming sounds. My mind raced. I quickly went downstairs, only to find water seeping out from the caulking along the stairs tiles. By the time I reached the kitchen and the room adjacent to it, the ceiling was leaking heavily, dripping water onto everything below.

I tried to reach our landlord, but early Thursday morning was too soon. With no response, I called our cleaner, who rushed over to help. Eventually, I got a hold of the landlord, who arranged for a plumber to come. By the time the plumber arrived, our cleaner had stepped out for half an hour.

Communicating with the plumber was a challenge; he was elderly and spoke mostly French. While inspecting the rooftop water tank, he accidentally disturbed a hidden wasp nest and got stung on the foot. Meanwhile, the landlord decided that engineers needed to assess the situation.

When the engineers arrived, they surveyed the damage, spoke with the landlord over the phone, and instructed our plumber and cleaner on what to do next. Their main priority was the pipe repair. They explained that walls and ceiling repairs, including painting, would have to wait until the water stopped leaking and everything dried. They also briefly checked our garage, where leaks had caused wiring issues, and gave guidance on addressing those problems.

With instructions in hand, our cleaner and the plumber set to work. The bathroom quickly became a full-scale construction zone. Walls were demolished to access the damaged pipes, and several trips were made to stores for supplies. Concrete was mixed in the garage, carried upstairs in buckets, and used to repair the walls before re-tiling.

After hours of relentless work, the repairs were finally completed around 7–8 PM, more than 12 hours after it all began. By then, the main plumbing issue had been resolved, though some ceiling leaks persisted in areas below. Parts of the plaster had soaked through and were falling in small sections, but by the end of the day, the leaking had mostly stopped.

It was a long, exhausting day for everyone involved. While the immediate crisis is now under control, the aftermath of water damage, especially the ceiling below, reminds me that even “routine” home maintenance can turn into an epic ordeal.

Throwback Thursday

 #ThrowbackThursday 🐿️🌿

A quiet moment from the trails of Oregon, this curious little squirrel paused just long enough to strike a pose before dashing off again. Moments like these are why I always keep my camera ready… You never know when wildlife will give you a split second of personality and story. 📷✨

The soft forest light, textured ground, and that incredible tail detail made this one of my favorite unexpected encounters in the Pacific Northwest.

Have you ever had a wildlife moment that made you stop and smile?

#ThrowbackThursday #Oregon #WildlifePhotography #NatureLovers #ForestMoments #AnimalPortrait #PacificNorthwest #PhotographyLife

World Bear Day A Moment You Don’t Forget 🐻🌲

Some wildlife encounters happen slowly.

You notice movement first, a shift in shadow, a branch that moves against the wind. Then the forest becomes very quiet. You raise the camera, not fully knowing what will step into the clearing.

This bear did.

There is a physical presence to large wildlife that photography can only partially convey. The weight in each step. The intelligence in the eyes. The sense that you are being observed just as carefully as you are observing.

In moments like this, your technical decisions become instinctive. I remember choosing a fast enough shutter speed to freeze movement while keeping enough depth to hold detail in the fur. The light filtering through the trees created contrast that demanded careful exposure, protecting the highlights, trusting the shadows.

Wildlife photography is rarely about perfect conditions. It is about readiness. Respect. Distance. Patience.

And sometimes, it is about accepting that you are simply witnessing something ancient and powerful, something that does not exist for your photograph.

World Bear Day feels like a good time to remember why we photograph wildlife at all. Not just to show animals, but to tell stories about the fragile wild places they depend on.

Protecting habitat is not an abstract idea when you have stood quietly in a forest clearing with a bear watching you.

📷 

Camera: Nikon Z6

Lens: 24-200mm

Shutter: 1/1000

Aperture: f/11

ISO: Auto-ISO

#WorldBearDay #WildlifePhotography #FieldNotes #NatureWriting #Conservation #WildlifeStorytelling #IntoTheWild 

Architectural Ambition on the Shores of Lake Kivu 🇷🇼

I recently captured this perspective of Château le Marara in Kibuye, and it serves as a striking example of the evolving landscape of Rwandan tourism.

While the "Château" aesthetic draws inspiration from classical European silhouettes, its placement on the terraced hills of Lake Kivu tells a deeper story of local investment and the diversification of the Great Lakes region's hospitality offerings.

A few professional observations from the lens:

• Integration of Landscape: The structural footprint maximizes the 270-degree water views, utilizing the natural peninsula to create an isolated, premium feel despite the rugged terrain.

• Tourism Growth: Beyond the well-known mountain gorilla trekking, developments like this highlight Rwanda’s push to become a multi-destination hub for high-end leisure and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism.

• Visual Branding: The stark contrast between the white facade and the deep greens/blues of the Kivu basin creates an immediate, recognizable landmark that is becoming a staple of the region's visual identity.

It is fascinating to watch how architectural diversity is being used to define new luxury standards across East Africa.

#HospitalityIndustry #RwandaBusiness #Architecture #TourismDevelopment #LakeKivu #AfricaInvestment #CommercialPhotography 

From Excitement to Uncertainty: How Middle East Tensions Are Affecting Our Travel Plans

Over the past few weeks, what should have been an exciting countdown to our long-awaited trip to Egypt has slowly turned into something much heavier, uncertainty.

Like many travelers, we’ve been closely watching the rapidly shifting situation in the Middle East. The current tensions involving the United States and Israel have triggered new U.S. travel advisories and restrictions across parts of the region. And while Egypt itself is not at the center of the conflict, the ripple effects are real, and they are affecting ordinary people like us who simply want to travel, explore history, and reconnect with friends.

A Trip We’ve Been Looking Forward To

Egypt has been on our list for a long time. Four nights and five days to finally see the pyramids, walk through ancient temples, cruise along the Nile, and experience Cairo’s chaotic beauty. It was supposed to be one of those unforgettable trips, especially meaningful as we planned it together with friends.

But now, instead of researching restaurants and desert tours, we’re refreshing government travel pages and airline updates.

U.S. travel restrictions and warnings create a psychological weight, even when flights are still technically operating. Insurance policies become complicated. Entry and exit logistics feel uncertain. And there’s always that lingering question: Will things escalate further while we’re there?

Travel is supposed to be about anticipation and joy. Lately, it’s been about contingency planning.

The Bigger Financial Stress: Flying Back to Japan

If that weren’t enough, we’re also watching what could happen to our return tickets to Japan in May.

We’re currently booked with Qatar Airways, routing through Doha. Under normal circumstances, it’s one of the best transit hubs in the world, smooth, efficient, and comfortable.

But if regional airspace restrictions expand, or if geopolitical tensions affect Gulf carriers, we may be forced to rebook entirely. Changing airlines at this stage could mean thousands of dollars in additional costs, fare differences, and cancellation penalties. And that’s assuming seats are even available at reasonable prices.

The domino effect of international politics doesn’t just stay in diplomatic circles; it lands squarely on everyday families trying to make practical decisions.

The Emotional Toll of Uncertainty

What makes this especially frustrating is that travel is often about connection and curiosity. We’re not policymakers. We’re not analysts. We’re just people who saved, planned, coordinated schedules, and looked forward to an experience.

Now, we’re asking:

• Do we postpone Egypt?

• Do we wait and hope tensions calm?

• Do we reroute through a completely different region?

• How much financial risk are we willing to absorb?

These aren’t small questions.

From Kigali, where we’re currently based, international travel already requires layers of logistics. Adding geopolitical instability to the equation multiplies the complexity.

Travel in a Geopolitical World

This moment is a reminder of how interconnected everything is. A policy decision in Washington. A military action involving Israel. Airspace considerations across the Gulf. And suddenly, a couple planning a cultural trip to Egypt is reconsidering everything.

Travel has always been sensitive to global events, pandemics, conflicts, and economic downturns. But when it hits your own itinerary, it feels different. It becomes personal.

For now, we’re watching, waiting, and hoping for de-escalation, not just for our trip, but for the region as a whole. Peace and stability matter far beyond tourism.

Still, we can’t deny it: what was supposed to be an exciting spring of travel now feels uncertain and financially risky.

We’ll keep monitoring updates and making the most responsible decision we can. And maybe, hopefully, we’ll still be standing in front of the pyramids next month, grateful that calm prevailed.

Until then, we plan… and we wait.

An Evening at Habesha: Good Food, Good Friends, Big Plans

After the Tour du Rwanda finish-line excitement settled, the evening shifted from racing to relaxing. We gathered with friends at Habesha, one of Kigali’s best spots for Ethiopian cuisine, to celebrate the day and talk about something equally exciting: our upcoming trip to Egypt.

If you’ve never had Ethiopian food after a long day outdoors, you’re missing out. Shared platters of injera layered with richly spiced stews filled the table. Lentils, tibs, shiro, all served family-style, eaten by hand, and accompanied by laughter and animated conversation about pyramids, desert sunsets, and Nile cruises.

And then came the coffee.

The Ethiopian coffee ceremony is never rushed. Freshly roasted beans, ground and brewed with care, served strong and aromatic. It’s more than just a drink; it’s a ritual, a pause, a moment to sit and reflect. After a day of fast-paced racing, it felt like the perfect contrast.

As we sipped our coffee, maps were pulled up, ideas debated, and plans sketched out. Cairo. The pyramids. Maybe Luxor. Maybe a sunrise over the desert. The Tour du Rwanda may have been ending, but another adventure is just beginning.

Days like this remind me why I love living in Kigali. World-class sport in the afternoon. International cuisine in the evening. Conversations that stretch toward future journeys.

From the hills of Rwanda to the sands of Egypt, 2026 is already shaping up to be a year of movement.

Tour du Rwanda 2026 Stage 8 in Kigali: A World Championship Encore

There’s something special about watching elite cycling in Kigali. The hills, the crowds, the energy, it all feels amplified here. And Stage 8 of the Tour du Rwanda 2026 delivered exactly that.

This year’s final stage unfolded on a course that felt strikingly familiar, rolling through the same challenging roads (or very close to them) that hosted the UCI Cycling World Championships last year. For those of us who stood along these roads twelve months ago watching the world’s best compete for rainbow jerseys, it was a surreal and proud moment to see Rwanda once again take center stage in international cycling.

Kigali’s Hills: As Brutal as Ever

Kigali doesn’t offer flat finishes or easy victories. The punchy climbs, technical corners, and relentless undulations force riders to earn every meter. From KCC through Nyarutarama, down toward Nyabugogo, and looping back through the city’s heart, the circuit showcased exactly why Rwanda has become one of Africa’s cycling powerhouses.

The atmosphere felt like a celebration, not just of the race, but of how far cycling in Rwanda has come. Crowds lined the roads waving flags, cheering on breakaways, and urging local riders forward on every climb. There’s a sense of ownership here; this isn’t just a sporting event, it’s a national moment.