Homestay by wysiwig
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Description
Her name was Yanka but everyone called her Ma. Born in Poland in 1931, she and her family fled when the Nazis invaded. By the age of 13 she was living in a refugee camp in Tanzania. That is where she met Mr. Roche and married him in 1947 at the age of 16. But he died in 1971 and shortly after that her two children left for Canada, leaving her alone.
Yanka decided soon after to open her home to travelers and became Ma Roche. It was not exactly the most luxurious or comfortable of accommodations but you could meet other travelers from all over the world. Walking into Ma Roche's through a big black gate with a sign warning intruders of vicious dogs within you were greeted by a small house in the middle of a large garden. Scattered throughout the garden were tents of all kinds and clothes lines were everywhere with dripping wet clothes hanging from them.
If you were flush with cash you could rent floor space in the house for $2 US per night or snag a bunk bed in one of the two bedrooms for $3 US per night, breakfast included.
Ma Roche was a living Polish legend back in the late 70s, 80s and into the 90s. Her house and property were open to all travelers and it seemed anyone on the road in Nairobi went there. She died several years ago but the memories of her and Mrs. Roche's Guest House live on in the thousands of those who passed through.
That's Ma Roche on the left and Marlene on the right.
Comments (12)
netot
Wow, this is a great history! It must have been very interesting place to visit and stay a couple of days. Ma Roche looks very nice, and Marlene looks very beautiful and nice too.
clbsmiley
Interesting...
durleybeachbum
Wonderful to see this place and both people. Vivid words!
auntietk
I feel like I know this place, just from your description. A wonderful presentation!
bobrgallegos
Wonderful interesting story and great capture!
alanwilliams
what a feast of stories she must have had, wonderful stuff.
Faemike55
this looks like a great place to stop and rest a while Thanks for the pictures and story
blondeblurr
You captured the essence of the house of Roche, (even spelled Roach in one spot?) which was undeniable her! she certainly comes across as a jovial but no-nonsense character ... BTW you can find corrugated roofing like that, also here in the Outback a lot! fine story - so far, BB
psyoshida
A warm-hearted woman. Sorry to hear she has since passed away. Imagine all the people she welcomed into her home over those years. Quite amazing! Such a wonderful true-life story. Luckily you are a photographer and those memories are still as fresh as the photos above.
Chipka
I've known a few Ma. Roches in my day...I even drank biologically active tea from one of them...only her family name wasn't Roche...in fact, I never knew her family name. I simply knew her as Marushka: she was the cleaning lady at The Golden Sickle, a hostel in Prague that was both home and workplace for me for a short time. I love this image and the story that accompanies it. The description of her garden, house, and bed/floor rates added such wonderful depth and re-opened the experience of travel I came to love so much...laundry hanging in various places (always dripping!) and a number of accents letting you know that you're sharing space from people from everywhere...and it's quite nice to speak to Morroccains and Estonians, Hungarians and Cubans in ONE room! I love the photo and all that it evokes and (for me) re-evokes. This is great.
sandra46
SUPERLATIVE STORY AND PEOPLE
Fidelity2
Superb! 5+! Thanks.