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A scene from Teen World Sports Gala held at Rainbow Towers recently

Adio AddieTee Dinika
Some people think of travel and tourism as long hours in the bus, car, plane or train, and very big hotel bills. They picture exotic beaches and the sun, dressed in bikinis and sipping ice cold tropical juices. Before we think of Mauritius or even Victoria Falls, let’s drive around the Sunshine City.

How much do we know about our city – Harare? I thought I knew pretty much, but after last Saturday I’m no longer so sure. Whenever someone would ask me about parks in Harare, I always named Harare Gardens, Africa Unity Square, Greenwood and pretended I had forgotten others, though I knew no more.

When my good friend Brian invited me to their group picnic I had mixed feelings about attending. A family picnic maybe, but not a group, especially a Christian group. Curiosity got the better of me and I tagged along.

I ended up at Avondale at Florence Chisholm Gardens, a wonderful picnic site. What it lacks in size it makes up for in lush green vegetation and is quite clean, cool; a wonderful place to spend a cool Saturday.

The moment you enter the gates you can be forgiven for thinking that you are no longer in Harare. The hum drum irritating noise of motor vehicles is replaced by the buzzing of bees collecting pollen from beautiful flowers, cawing of a few crows foraging.

“Wow, I never knew about this place, it’s so lovely,” said Millicent, a Lower Sixth student at Harare High School.
“Let’s go play by the swings,”  Sipho, a 13- year-old boy shouted rushing towards a pair of swings at the centre of the gardens.

Peggy, the director of ceremonies, entertained us with a wonderful poem entitled “Gethsemane, Heaven and Death”.
A crow came and perched itself in the tree directly above Peggy, as if it too was enjoying the poem. I just prayed it did not decide to be naughty and giggles from a group behind me confirmed that I was not the only one with such thoughts.

The chairperson of the group could hardly control the people as at the slightest of opportunity one would rush for a photo shoot in the picture perfect garden.

“This is just like the Garden of Eden, but without the fruits of course,” Zandile, a fourth- year medical student said drawing smiles from everyone around her.

We played a game of tug-of-war and really enjoyed as each team roared out its war cry. The lawns were so plush that no one feared not rolling over as there was no danger of getting hurt. I think this is cool after all, I said to myself.

The co-ordinating team had to literally pull people to leave when it was finally time to return home. Victoria Falls may have its falls, but forget not this wonderful garden, tucked away in Avondale, just a couple of minutes drive from the city centre. Going for a picnic today, anyone to join me?