Our first port of call, forgive the pun, was to the port, to the Kilamanjaro Ferry Ticket office. We wanted to ensure that we could get the 0930 ferry tomorrow morning. The Idd al Haj Muslim festival commenced yesterday and continues over the weekend. Families get together for prayer and feasting and we were worried that the ferries and flights might be booked out. Much to our relief, tomorrow didn't pose a problem on the ferries, so we booked the 0930hrs to Dar- that should give us sufficient time to get to the airport.
We are staying in the old town with its medinas akin to those of North Africa and Arabia with its bazaars and grand Arabian and Indian mansions.
The city is located on a spectacular waterfront - the showpiece of the Sultan palaces.
The promenade displayed wonderful, colourful flora
The Old Dispensary on the waterfront -
a charitable health centre in old British colonial style of India, built by Indian craftsman.
Beside it the Palace Museum - once the residence of the last Sultan. The House of Wonders with its clock tower is the city's most distinctive landmark built in 1883 as a palace.
Finally the Old Fort and dates back to
expulsion of the Portuguese in 1698.
We left the waterfront and delved into the medina.
Every shop calling us to inspect their wares. It was such a warren that we could not, for some time, find our way back to Hotel Zanzibar.
On our way back, I heard Jambo (hello) It was the taxi man, who brought us to Bwejuu beach a few days ago! Since we left Vic Falls, we haven't seen as many white people as we have here in Stone Town! There are many European tourists here.
We ate lunch at a tapas bar located on the Post Office roof top - GPO, Dublin take note!
We're going to African House, an old colonial club, for sunset drinks and on to 6 degrees for dinner - for indeed WE ARE 6• south of the Equator!
I close this blog with views it the sunset over Stone Town harbour.
Usiki mwema ( good night )
END
ADDENDUM
My apologies for all the name dropping - just trying to document previous travels when I hadn't the energy, with three children and CC in tow, to write a diary
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