Arrived at Springlands hotel. The company I booked through (Ultimate Kilimanjaro) is just an internet site out of Chicago for ZARA tours, who actually runs the trips in Tanzania. This hotel is on the outskirts of Moshi is a sketchy part of town - they have you trapped cause there is no where else to go, safely. Added to the fun is the loudspeaker from the Mosque next door who wails for 1/2 hour starting at 5:00am and again at 6:30pm. The water is hot and the shower clean - I have my own room so its all OK! Went for a good swim before our group meeting to get rid of some nerves and get some sun. I try to be friendly, the best are 2 girls from Norway...go figure! (I'm part Norwegian) We have a group meeting at 4pm...ish. People from all over however, the group doing the Lemosho Route (8days vs 7 or 6), consists of these folks: Catherine, 28, NY City (ended up being my 'wet' tent mate), Mary and Tom - he's a Colonel in US army and PhD in entamology. My age. Alister from near Toronto Ontario - ex- South African with English accent. Will - US Airforce, Andre and Jesse - US airforce, Sarah - US Army, San Diego, Zak and Jules, he is Army she is nurse at Army hospital, and Dave - US Army. Some staioned in Nairobi, some from States. And of course, me, from good 'ol Calgary, Alberta. Dinner is at 7:30, there is no food otherwise, again so you eat there. Some of the waiters are so seet - the people who live here, Tanzananian's, are very friendly and willing to help in any way. Some of the tourists don't treat them very well - very sad. The loudness of the young "army people" is becoming obvious...Should be an interesting trip - 8 days....hmmm.