We were picked up around 8oclock andWe haven't any internet so cannot use WhatsApp we were to be picked up at 9.30 but don't know if we have received any messages drove to Bagamoyo which is a town founded at the end of 18th century. This is where the slave auctions took place. The oil from Zanzibar is delivered here by boat then transported around.
It’s a small town population 50,000 very poor.
They too have a place called stone town, we had a wonder around some buildings, the forte that the Germans took possession. German and English grave yard, we went to the fish market which is situated on the beach, I must say the smell
was more bearable, there was huts that smoked the fish and sold it or you could by it fresh.
We did go and see some crocodile, which took a car journey to get to.
From there we left the town and headed for the orphanage in Dar es Salaam, we met up with an old friend Bahati who I met in Weston at the primary school our daughter Harriet attended, she schooled there with Arnold, Bahati nephew.
She came back to Tanzania in 2004, it was great to meet her again and in her home country.
Bahati is a counsellor for the children at the orphanage, although the orphanage has taken the children they don’t always know the story behind each child until Bahati talks to them, some very bad and sad situations these children have come from.
I got very emotional there and was trying very hard to hold my tears back. All the children seemed very happy, they all got along with each other. The older ones took good care of the younger ones. They sang us songs and we said prayers together, their religion is Roman Catholic, some of the children are being prepared to make there first holy communion in July, the children ask me if I could be there for them, unfortunately I can’t.
We took many gifts to the orphanage for the children, we could of given them out individually but we decided to put everything in to baskets, so the careers could hand out fairly to them later, It was overwhelming to see the children’s faces light up when they saw the gifts. I was handing out to the girls hair clips and hair bands, hands came from everywhere even the boys were wanting the hair accessories, we also handed cuddly toys which was gifted to us from a dear friend to give to the children, the children were very excited and couldn’t stop thanking us, it was a very touching and poignant time. The carers told us the children are so excited, they each have something that is new and hasn’t belonged to anyone else before them. I was on the understanding that other people that bared gifts to the orphanage the items were all second hand nothing was new. This was another poignant time for me, it really made my heart heavy knowing that the children will cherish these gifts even more and they will feel that they have something belonging to just them.
We went back to Bahati house for lemon grass tea, she showed us around her beautiful home, her hospitality to us is fantastic and can’t thank her enough.
We then ventured off again to Rudy’s farm for food. its not only a restaurant but a working farm, I have to say the food was great.
It was lovely spending time with Bahati and so kind of her to give us her time and make us feel so welcome. It had been another long day we got back to the apartment about 10pm and we were ready for our bed.