Then we took off to explore Stone Town. There is no reason to have a map, as the "streets" are not marked and they basically are long, narrow passageways that were muddy (it rained before we got up and about) and rocky.
The passageways were lined with shops, if you want to call them shops. First thing, Beth spotted one with dresses and the like and bought herself a skirt and two blouses. She was happy.
Our first mission, however, was to find an ATM because very few of the places take Visa cards, only Tanzanian shillings. We found one, but it didn't work so we continued through the passageways and found one at which I got some shillings then we found another one at which Beth got some shillings. They don't go very far, as the exchange rate pretty much sucks. For 200,000 shillings, we only got about USD $81. But hey! A beer is only about 10,000 shillings.
Anywho, we got lost. We did get to the Darajani market, where there were tons of people and tons of things to buy - everything from fish to spices to fresh fruit. We didn't spend much time there, as we're kind of Africa-ed out. It was busy, muddy, dirty and, well, just not what we wanted to do so we took off again through the passageways, hoping to find the ocean again where our hotel is located.
We made a huge circle but it was fine. We were out of the tourist area and actually got to see a part of Stone Town that was local.
We asked several people where the hell we were, hoping to get back to the ocean and, lol, realized we had made a big circle of about an hour's walk and were back at that same market. But finally, we found our way back.
Besides it being crowded and African-like, there are many "vendors" in the street that will hit you up to purchase their goods and/or give you a "guided tour" for money. I totally understand that it's how they make a living but, to be honest, I'm really tired of being nice and telling them we're not interested or, at worse, that we must tell them no outright.
So we're looking for places that accept Visa because the shillings disappear quickly. Got to the "Floating Restaurant" on the beach, asked about credit cards and were told they accept credit cards. Not. We had to shell out shillings for lunch.
It was very pleasant at the floating restaurant. The Indian Ocean is a beautiful aqua color, and there are tons of dhows in the area.
We went back to the hotel for a nap. Our room is air conditioned, thank goodness, because it is very humid here. I am yearning to get to Jambiani where we have a villa on the ocean where we can swim in the ocean or the pool.
We arranged for a spice tour tomorrow and a sunset dhow cruise tomorrow evening then took off for the local bar we found that is on the beach to watch the sun set. I took my camera, and I got some pretty good photos of people swimming as well as the sunset.
Note: small lizards creeping up your leg or your back can make you jump right out of your chair. I know: I jumped. Yikes.
Around 6:30 p.m., we headed to the restaurant "Monsoon" where there was Taarab music. We ate supper then we were escorted into an air-conditioned space, very Arabic with large arches. We sat on pillows. Well, they provided me a low chair as I would have difficulty getting up from the floor.
We had a few drinks and listened to the music. One of the women who greeted us to sit down for supper told us she was singing and sure enough, she came in and sang with the four men in the "band." It was interesting music. They riffed on Bolero by Ravel (!) for about ten minutes. It's like jazz. I felt like we should be smoking sheesha, like we did in Doha, but none was offered.
We came back to the hotel. I'm writing the blog on the rooftop terrace where one of the employees gave us a delicious fruit juice.
By and large, it was a good day although we're tired and we're becoming fatigued from just being here for so long.
We ran into Becka at coffee this morning, who arranged a spice tour for us tomorrow (much cheaper than what I found), then we're doing the dhow sunset cruise.
Monday is a non-day, as we're not in the mood to go to any museums - the Palace Museum, for instance, or the House of Wonders where, apparently, the sultan had his harem living. Nor the Slave Market where slaves were kept before they were sold. We're getting ready to be done traveling I guess.
We're looking forward to getting to Jambiani Villas on the east side of the island where we can chill - snorkel a little, swim a little and just do a five-day beach vacation before we head home.
Delivering sugar cade in Stone Town.
A typical street in Stone Town. They very narrow, and they wind and wind. We got lost, actually, and made a big circle until someone pointed us to the ocean!
A woman at the fish market at Darajani market.
A young woman in Stone Town.
A vegetable vendor at Darajani market.
Two of the four men playing Taarab music at the Monsoon restaurant. I don't know the instrument the guy is playing that is in his lap but I think it's a cross between a dulcimer and a autoharp. :)
This is portion of the room in which we sat and listened to Taarab music for a couple of hours.
A boat of fishermen as the sun set.
Beth enjoying a passion fruit colada while we listen to Taarab music.
Another kind of fishing boat as the sun sets.
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