Planting the Seeds for Purple Luci in Rwanda

I’m so thankful that Hubby wanted to travel to the Motherland – Africa, for his 60^th birthday and chose Rwanda as the destination. We stayed in the capital, Kigali. Our trip was a game-changer on so many levels, and what a celebration! We had a blast! Every person we encountered, showed us love.

 Rwanda is known as the “Land of a Thousand Hills,” due to its striking and picturesque geography. This nickname highlights the country's topography, which is characterized by a series of lush, rolling hills and mountains. Simply breathtaking!

 To get around this bustling, beautiful town, we hooked up with the best driver in Kigali – Jeff, who doubled as our Tour Guide. And there was a lot to cover. We stayed at a beautiful, delightful hotel- The Heaven Boutique. Five stars all the way! The staff, accommodations, and its two fine restaurants were amazing!

 We also dined on modern African cuisine at other superb restaurants in Kigali, including Inka Steakhouse and a restaurant at 1000 Hills Distillery, and its magnificent views. We also spent an afternoon at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which serves as a poignant reminder of the Rwandan Genocide, which occurred in 1994. An estimated 800,000 people, including children, died. The memorial is an essential institution in Rwanda's ongoing journey towards healing and reconciliation.

 And of course, we went on a safari in the beautiful Akagera National Park, with phenomenal Parks Tour Guide, James Kamugisha, of Fruits of Hope Adventure Tours.  Art museums in Kigali are also a must-visit. We embraced artwork at the Kigali Arts Center,  the Inema Art Center, and the Niyo Arts Center. We fueled our early days and long nights, with java from  Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee, and Question Coffee, each giving us a fun, unique, and of course – tasty experience. ‘Amazing staff at both!

 Another highlight of our trip: shopping! Full disclosure: I love to shop; the Hubby – not so much. But I’m thankful he trekked with me to the various shopping markets throughout Kigali, meeting and engaging with uber-talented Artisans along the way. I told him we needed to pick up souvenirs. But what I didn’t tell him was that some of the goodies would be for our own home.

 Little did we know then, that in buying beautiful gifts at the various markets, I was planting the seeds for Purple Luci. These items, along with the love that Rwandans showed us every single day, no matter where we went, would become the inspiration for Purple Luci.

 Our mission is to bring that warm and engaging Rwandan culture to your lives while helping the creative artists, mostly women - build the lives they deserve.