TAN: Zanzibar Bound

With our stuff all gathered together, we headed off to the pier to catch the boat to Zanzibar. Got our tickets on the “fast boat” all sorted out. We felt a bit taken advantage of by the guy that arranged for the tickets but by the time we realized that other options might be better, it was too late. Our search for breakfast was hindered by Muslim holy month of Ramadan being in full swing. We had missed the first few days while we were out on safari. With all the Muslim faithful fasting during sunlight hours, eating during the day for the next month or so would prove to be a difficult experience at best.

You can have a Coke and a smile anywhere in the world.

We boarded the boat and took our reserved seats for what turned out to be a two and a quarter hour trip. Compared to the three hours on the slow boat, it was hardly worth almost double the price for the ticket. The Stone Town port on Zanzibar was hardly set up for tourist traffic. We laboriously climbed over rickety piers and ramps and negotiated around the clearinghouses. Our meandering path eventually took us to the Immigration Office where we were admitted into Zanzibar.
Just outside the office we were set upon by the touts looking to give us a lift into town. During her visit in July, Chantal had paid 3000 shillings for a ride that lasted less than 5 minutes. We were a little reluctant to repeat that experience but one of the drivers was willing to take us for 1000. His game turned out to be getting us signed up for other services on the island, mainly spice tours. We told him we would think about his offer and checked into the Tembo Hotel.

Poolside at the Tembo Hotel.

After getting settled, we headed out in search of some food. It took us a bit of hunting, but we eventually found an Indian place that was open. Our onward ramblings took us through the narrow streets of Stone Town, winding up on the rooftop bar at the Emerson and Green Hotel.

Stone Town is noted for its carved wooden doors.

Seen around town.

Garbage is omnipresent in the small streets and alleyways.

An example of the ornate facades found in Stone Town. Weathered limestone.

The local video arcade has everything you need.

Sugar cane presses waiting for the sun to set before being put into action. Some of the biggest spiders I have ever seen. These were easily 5 inches long.

The view from the Emerson and Green bar was spectacular.

Returned to the Tembo Hotel from our wanderings to work on the DVD some more and for the others to swim for a bit. Headed out again to try and find an Internet cafe. The first one we stopped at was closing in 30 minutes but we thought we would give it a try anyway. The settings that the attendant gave us to hook our laptops into their network didn’t work so we ended up leaving, frustrated, a little bit later. We searched for another place we could hook into but none of them were interested in our business. Ended up back at the hotel hooked into their connection, which is the fasted we have experienced in Tanzania. Out again a bit later for a delicious meal at a pure vegetarian Indian place around the corner.