Our first view of Mount Everest - Whaia te taumata!

Tashi Dele. Today was our acclimatisation rest day at Namche.  The day started like a picture postcard, in fact I might start selling my pictures. We enjoyed a sleep in until 8 am and had breakfasts of porridge, toast French toast, chapati, fried eggs or pancakes, with as much lemon or black tea and coffee we wished. You can see that the food is a big hit with us all.  Hugh in particular is into everything on the menu and, like me, takes a photo of each meal before it is demolished!  There was free time until 10am and several went shopping or enjoyed a pastry from one of the many bakeries.

After meeting again at the hotel we walked up behind Namche to the Sagarmatha National Park HQ and Sherpa Museum. It was here that we were awed by our first view of Mount Everest. Time to pull out the Cromwell College flag and do some posing.  The HQ had very informative interpretive panels on all aspects of the Park.

Everest is right above Liam's head!

We then toured the Sherpa Museum, a re-creation of a typical sherpa home.  One of the most colourful room was the family prayer room. There was also a room of showing the history of Everest climbing. Back to the hotel for sherpa stew and dahl baht.  Everyone is now out attempting to tick off their family shopping list. Who says that boys arn't keen on shopping? They have all enjoyed their 'bargin' purchases. I have a great yak bell and some surprises for Julie, Emily and Louise.

Jonathan and Leroy in the Sherpa prayer room

Tonight we will do some preparation for our time at Phortse School. We will be up at 6am and away by 7am climbing to Phortse.  Looking forward to great views of Lhotse, Everest and Ama Deblam! We will be out of internet access for the next 5-6 days and will not update the blog until we reach Lobuche.

Pauline and Elsa above Namche

Thanks for the support and the lovely comments. The students are coping exceptionally well with all the challenges and new experiences and parents have every right be immensely proud of them - I am! Namaste.

P.S Today is Liam's birthday - he doesn't know it yet but a lovely cake has been made for him with a gift of some prayer flags