Stone Town stopover

Having some time out between goodbyes and hellos is something I've realised I need.  As much as I just want to get on a plane and get the whole transition thing over and done with, going from one intense event straight into another is too much, especially when leaving a place that I wasn't quite ready to leave.  I still desperately miss Moshi, but after four days I am more ready to face returning to Australia.

Stone Town is an amazing place, more like a Mediterranean town than something out of Africa.  After arriving the previous night, I decided on Day 1 to venture down to the waterfront.  Getting there was ok, but getting back was not so easy.   Some of the alleys are only a few metres wide, and with tall buildings on either side it is impossible to find any landmark except for a narrow strip of blue sky.   And then the fact that none of them go in a straight line, and some lead nowhere....arrgh!   Anyway, I got lost in the morning, more hopelessly lost in the afternoon, but by Day 2 I had my chosen route mastered!

Unlike the mainland part of Tanzania, Zanzibar is 99% Muslim.  It's the month of Ramadan at the moment, meaning Muslim people are fasting from food and drink between dawn and dusk.  I admire their discipline and have been making an effort to conceal food or water when walking around!  Understandably it was really hard to find somewhere that served lunch, but I came across this place which was open for the few tourists hanging around.  Super nice place with yummy food!

Today I joined a tour to Prison Island with some other girls that are travelling.  It's just what I needed!  Beautiful clear water, good conversation, and some rather cute tortoises.  Weirdly, despite the name, the building was never a used as a prison.  It was built for that purpose but then became a quarantine hospital for infectious diseases.

Approaching Prison Island

Tortoise friends!  It's a bit sad that they are enclosed i a sanctuary, but they seem to have an ok life!

Pretty sandals from Moshi on a pretty beach in Zanzibar

Back to Stone Town

Tomorrow morning I fly from Zanzibar back to Dar (a whole 20 mins!) Then wait until that evening to fly to Doha.  I stay overnight in Doha, then fly on to Adelaide.  Next post will be from the land of Aus......