Zanzibar

SO i am skipping over last weekends excursion into Masailand and will save that for a Sunday posting. I hopped on the Dar Express for Dar es Salam yesterday morning at 6 am! I caught the last ferry to Zanzibar and am currently typing at an internet cafe (I have 11:30:00 left to write before my money runs out...). It is beautiful here, and the kiswahili is a bit different but I am getting along fine. I have done well in becoming conversant! I have luckily avoided the mtali (tourist) spots. I made it to the darahani market with fresh fruit, veggies, spices!, hanging meat and a fish market. There was one salt water fish being cut up on the ground longer than me, quite amazing. I then hit up the winding markets east of the stone town tourist traps. Many Indian, Arabian and African shops. Luckily (and unluckily with the heat) I wore pants, so was able to go into a local mosque before noon worship. I also walked with a local through a ship building yard. The ships have not changed in hundreds of years and really quite impressive. Finally took a break from the heat here. I hope to find some old men playing Bao this afternoon- would like to learn first hand this very old game. I played it once in Ghana and it was a lot of fun. Pardon any misspellings but with little time, a short stool and Araibic keyboard this is difficult. I hope to post some pics when I return.

Only 3 days until I return home, and so much to see! Hope all is well with family and friends, can't wait to see you all- especially LAURA, CHARLIE & ELLIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tutaonana,
Eric