We made it! Yesterday we arrived on the island of Zanzibar (off the coast of Tanzania) on an Ethiopian Airlines flight via Dar Es Salaam, postponed on the ground there for about 30 minutes for a dumping rainstorm that flooded the tarmac. The humidity and heat are astounding here after the dry dustiness of Ethiopia, but we are all adjusting quickly. Who can't adjust to paradise (with the help of lots of fresh fruit juice, ocean breezes, cold showers and ICE CREAM)?
Yesterday we ate a couple seafood meals and wandered the city of Stone Town a bit, reacquainting ourselves with places we could vaguely remember. Nate and I are doing a lot of reminiscing from our 2010 visit.
Cora absolutely loved the "show" at Fordhani Gardens where local guys jump (flip, dive, cannonball, and other moves I can't name) off the tall stone piers into the ocean and vendors set up hot food stands for dinner every night. At night, her little sleeping tent was too hot for her (after an hour in bed she was completely soaked with sweat), so she slept with us in our bed under the ceiling fan -- but she slept like the dead since she missed all naps but a 30-minute pass-out yesterday while we waited in line for our TZ visas.
I am so proud of her. This girl is an amazing little traveler - she says "good morning" (well, "morning" anyway) to everyone (even at night) and is breaking out "asante" (thank you in Swahili) which she learned from Nate's Kenyan colleagues in Ethiopia. What a little champ. She seems to be up for anything -- as long as we keep feeding her! Still eating everything in sight.
Now I am sitting on the covered roof terrace of the lovely Clove Hotel in Stone Town as another thunderous rainstorm moves through. We just finished a mango-heavy breakfast, and Nate and Cora headed into the city to find an ATM, so they are out in this downpour! Luckily Cora loves water so I'm sure it's hilarious and fun for her, and you know it won't slow Nate down.
Our plan is to catch a daladala (public minivan) for the 2-hr ride up to Nungwi (the town north of Kendwa, where Nate and I stayed last time we were here). We got a reservation at the Jambo Bungalows for $30 a night - according to our new Kindle Rough Guide to ZNZ, it is basic but adequate (meaning: a fan but no a/c, a bed and net but no TV, etc.). Sounds fine. If it doesn't suit us, Nungwi has many other hotel choices, from basic to extravagant.
Nate bought at SIM card for his phone and my plan was to post the new number here, but of course the phone is in his (probably wet) pocket right now. He can send it to the parental units via email when he gets back.
Hope ya'll are well - we keep seeing news clips of huge snowstorms in the Northeast and even the southern US? Stay warm, people.
Yesterday we ate a couple seafood meals and wandered the city of Stone Town a bit, reacquainting ourselves with places we could vaguely remember. Nate and I are doing a lot of reminiscing from our 2010 visit.
Cora absolutely loved the "show" at Fordhani Gardens where local guys jump (flip, dive, cannonball, and other moves I can't name) off the tall stone piers into the ocean and vendors set up hot food stands for dinner every night. At night, her little sleeping tent was too hot for her (after an hour in bed she was completely soaked with sweat), so she slept with us in our bed under the ceiling fan -- but she slept like the dead since she missed all naps but a 30-minute pass-out yesterday while we waited in line for our TZ visas.
I am so proud of her. This girl is an amazing little traveler - she says "good morning" (well, "morning" anyway) to everyone (even at night) and is breaking out "asante" (thank you in Swahili) which she learned from Nate's Kenyan colleagues in Ethiopia. What a little champ. She seems to be up for anything -- as long as we keep feeding her! Still eating everything in sight.
Now I am sitting on the covered roof terrace of the lovely Clove Hotel in Stone Town as another thunderous rainstorm moves through. We just finished a mango-heavy breakfast, and Nate and Cora headed into the city to find an ATM, so they are out in this downpour! Luckily Cora loves water so I'm sure it's hilarious and fun for her, and you know it won't slow Nate down.
Our plan is to catch a daladala (public minivan) for the 2-hr ride up to Nungwi (the town north of Kendwa, where Nate and I stayed last time we were here). We got a reservation at the Jambo Bungalows for $30 a night - according to our new Kindle Rough Guide to ZNZ, it is basic but adequate (meaning: a fan but no a/c, a bed and net but no TV, etc.). Sounds fine. If it doesn't suit us, Nungwi has many other hotel choices, from basic to extravagant.
Nate bought at SIM card for his phone and my plan was to post the new number here, but of course the phone is in his (probably wet) pocket right now. He can send it to the parental units via email when he gets back.
Hope ya'll are well - we keep seeing news clips of huge snowstorms in the Northeast and even the southern US? Stay warm, people.
2 comments:
9" as of 5:00 this morning with snow falling @ 1"/hr throughout the morning … don't forget the upper midwest!
We didn't know we'd get updates DURING the adventure! Thanks!
WE are so happy to turn on the computer and see updates. Jim is on his computer not far away from me watching the video now and laughing, choc. donuts and cartwheels. funny stuff.
Oh I can report no snow here. I am playing golf in the morning and Dad will be going flying.
Jen - No luck with B&B in So Hero... her daughter is stayiing with her till summer. Will get it done with some help from the locals back there.
Now the Bye Bye, go hide with Momma,, hid and seek video... Dad is laughing so much.
Have Fun. Love you
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