Sadly we had to leave the beach and head for our last night in Zanzibar. We haven't quite made the most of it due to both being unwell. Starting to wonder if mumma and poppa are too old for this type of travelling.
When we arrived in Stonetown there was confusion about where we were staying as it was a private apartment and it took me a while to find that I had been sent detailed instructions the day before. There were lots of people trying to help us and we trudged through the narrow alleyways til we found a green metal door which lead into a dark grotty entrance. See face book photos. Pete was really struggling and we were faced with 5 flights of stairs getting narrower and steeper the higher we went. We dragged ourselves to the top to find a metal padlocked gate and no one home. I searched my phone again and found a message saying I should let Dave know when we were arriving so he could let us in. I had no internet and an incorrect phone number. It must have been 33 degrees!
Fortunately a young woman appeared dragging a huge suitcase up the stairs and she was able to let us in. Another flight of stairs and we were in an amazing space high high up and breezy and open with fantastic views.
We both collapsed on the bed which also collapsed under us!! We were at the end of our tether. The slats had come off under the mattress. It happened again when we went to bed in the evening so I spent the night on the day bed as my tolerance was low.
We slept for a few hours then went out to find some dinner. We found ourselves at a food market on the waters edge with dozens of stalls all selling the same thing and competing for customers. Kebabs with octopus, squid, prawns, tuna, beef, duck, chicken and other things. Also samosas and flat bread and numerous other choices. We braved a mango lassi and some prawns and something else. The food seems safe as does the environment. We are just not very hungry with the heat and our illness.
It was lovely sitting on the water front watching the little dhows sailing by and observing all the people. I am sure we overpaid but it doesn't matter. Hard to get our heads around Tanzanian shillings. 10000 about $6
I was woken this morning at 4.30 by a rooster crowing followed by the call to prayer booming out of speakers close by. I went out onto the roof and the city was totally quiet except for the rooster who didn't let up.
Managed to catch a bit more sleep and woke up feeling pretty horrid.
We decided to go out and find some breakfast about 8.30 and the town still hadn't woken up. Nice to stroll the empty alleyways til we found a nice place to get muesli and yoghurt and fruit. Just what we needed.
Now the town was awake, shops open and markets teeming with people. We wandered past the old slave market which was pretty horrid although it is now shops. Saw huge snapper and tuna being gutted on the pavement.
Quite quickly we were exhausted again and climbed back up to our sanctuary on the roof and promptly fell asleep again. Heat exhaustion and flu are not a great combo.
Now we are about to take off for Lilongwe via Nairobi. The taxi driver told us about the brutal dictatorship here. Must be horrible not to live in a democracy. He said that people who speak out against the government are bayoneted in the forest!!
Interesting to suddenly see lots of old white people dressed in safari colours at the airport. I think it is a group of Canadians. We are not the only ones.
Next blog will be from Cape Maclear and hopefully we will be fully recovered. Looking forward to having Lawrence join us tomorrow