Having a weekend free time we had decided to check out Zanzibar (the spice islands) just off the coast of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Flew in from Nairobi on Friday afternoon – the airport was slightly organised chaos, long queues for immigration, baggage unloaded 1 bag at a time onto table – no carousel, then customs wanted to have a cursory look in every bag, once outside the door beset by people trying to sell all sorts of wares, take your bags or get you into a taxi! There was a desk organising the taxis but that only resulted in getting into the most decrepit taxi I have ever ridden in! for the short journey into Stone Town to Tembo Hotel. Was an interesting experience for a couple of days – nice pool and restaurant patio looking over the beach, good reasonably priced food. The beach in Stone Town is busy with dhows and motor driven boats plying tourist trades to nearby islands and diving expeditiones etc as well as for smallish freight ferries which drive onto the beach and load and unload with some difficulties across the sand. So plenty of goings on to watch.
Going into the narrow streets of the town was also an experience – dozens of shops selling similar ranges of crafts and each one with several people in the street greeting you and encouraging you to come in and buy, as well as street vendors of all sorts including a guy trying to sell CDs who walked alongside me crooning one of the tunes for several minutes even though I indicated I was not interested.
Spiced coffee was another highlight of Zanzibar. A relaxing and interesting weekend – another visit would have to check out the resorts and nicer beaches of the other side of the island but needs more than a weekend for that. Sunday afternoon flew over to Dar es Salaam and checked into Swiss Garden Hotel where we stay for the week – a very pleasant hotel of about a dozen units in a garden setting. They set the table for however many have booked for dinner – so you get to meet and talk with other guests – a number were other expats on aid and developmetnt work so some interesting conversations.
