What a nice diversion from the rest of our journey! We could nearly forget the poverty of Zanzibar and the rest of Tanzania. The resort is on the north end of the island. The tides carry the water a long way out, so we enjoyed both waves crashing on the shore and silence when the tide was out. We could walk far onto the ocean floor and into the shallow surf to frolic and bounce in the waves. Great body surfers we’re not.
The natural aquarium deserves mention. Well, maybe not. The basin is filled through porous rock, so as the tide comes in, the pond fills and vice versa. They had some sea turtles, green turtles I think, vegetarian and hawks bill, omnivorous. The injured turtles and young trapped in fishing nets are rehabilitated and released per a government program. There was a python, small, a mere six feet and a monitor lizard, not even cute, The biology lesson was interesting. Have you ever heard the term “tourist trap”? Fortunately, the other four relaxed on the beach. I wont’ tell you who was taken, but there initials are Bob, Sandy and Ken.
We relaxed and enjoyed the poisons of choice. Bob re-introduced me to Tequila Sunrise, a pleasure long forgotten. The food was fine. We basked in the sun and starlight while we could. Even around a campfire. And drinks with ice. Sigh.
Saturday was a long day. We were picked up right on schedule by Zamir and Suleman. We toured Stone Town and the Anglican Cathedral on the site of the slave auction block. The great explorer, David Livingston, was instrumental in ending slavery in Africa. His heart is buried under a tree and his preserved body was carried to Zanzibar, then transported accompanied by two of his African friends devoted to him. We saw the sights, recorded electronically generously.
After lunch, we headed for the airport, where we were informed, ironically, that we needed some paper document with the e-ticket numbers. Now there’s a paradox. It took an hour and a half of the two we had reserved for the airport, so now we know why! Even our guide showed some nonverbal signs of stress. But we made it! From Zanzibar, a short hop to Dar es Salaam, and a trip around the check-in again to a gate upstairs, then down the steps, onto the tarmac and back on the same plane! It was actually a tight schedule and the plane was waiting for us. Fortunately, our baggage had been checked through. Unfortunately, I was stopped at the last checkpoint.
“Do you have a scissors?” I replied no, of course, Then I remembered my first aid kit. Duh. “You will have to check it.” So I ran to the baggage check-in, pleaded for help (in English). I knew my pack or myself wouldn’t make the flight. I ran back up to the gate, where Birdie was waiting for me. Now neither of us would make it. Fortunately, the attendant said, “They are waiting for you.” The same flight attendant that greeted us onto the plane in Zanzibar said, “Welcome back!”
I wish I could just end the story there, since the flight was uneventful, our guide was waiting at Kilimanjaro airport and we were all glad to be on the ground. But one of our bags did not make it. Surprisingly, it wasn’t my backpack; it was Sandy’s suitcase, with clothes and gifts. Hope for its reappearance is on the wane, since we will leave tomorrow evening. We were thankful to arrive in Arusha safely, at a nice hotel. Sometimes it’s a little thing that bites the hardest.
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