The last two days have been pretty good. We got two days ago in Monjo and headed up to Namchi Bazaar. It is probably the biggest town in the Khumbu and the shopping destination for the Sherpa who inhabit this region. Saturday is market day and people will walk sometimes two days to get here to buy, sale or barter. In America people get aggravated if they have to park to far out in the lot. I grant time isn’t as expensive here although it is just as valuable.

The trail up to Namche is the first serious altitude gain and unlike most of the trail it is pretty unrelenting uphill. We are privileged too have two guys with us who are doing the trek to base camp but not the climb. It is fun to share this experience with some one who is doing it for the first time. I don’t care how tough you are the altitude will make you wonder if you will ever get up again. It is alittl discouraging when you finally do walk into Namche because the uphill isn’t over. The city sits on such a steep hill that each structure looks down on the roof of the one next to it. The tea house Bill and I had chose was the nicest in town and unfortunately the highest. We almost had a minor revolt.

This place was a definite five star – the first I have ever awarded. Although still just plywood they did sort of have a carpet on the floor. But more importantly they had electricity including charging outlets in the room and an ELECTRIC BLANKET. They even had wi-fi in the common room and a nice wood stove. They had tea and popcorn at 4:00 – one of my favorite Everest traditions. We usually spend an extra day in Namche for acclimatization purposes and this was a great place. Unfortunately I spent a frustrating free day trying to get my laptop to link with my sat phone. Finally I emailed my provider. I got up early on our last day to see what help they had provided only to be told it would not work with Windows 7. Well that is a problem isn’t it since I am in the middle of nowhere and unlikely to find a computer store. I do have other plans but none as convenient. There it is. Yak happens.