4/17 Sunday 

Dar Es salaam.  Tanzania's Capitol and largest city in the country. The people are pushy and aggressive. Sounds like my kind of place right? I didn't mind that part of culture actually....but they would even make me look like a patient soul. 

We arrived in Zanzibar this afternoon. I was so exhausted by then that I didn't even know we had taken off on our 30 minute flight from dar es salaam.  Next thing you know we are witnessing a beautiful sunset over the Indian ocean landing in Zanzibar. 

Two taxi driver were waiting for us to take us to the hotel. Boy, I'm so grateful for my brother to think of all the details of our trip. It has made me feel like royalty. One of the driver was a fast talker. He showed us a visitor book and shamelessly pointed out a picture of himself in the tourguide book. 

Our first night in Zanzibar, one of the inn keepers roomate took us to forodahn park. What a great place. So lively, not only with the locals but a great spot to taste a bit of culture for the tourists. Lots of round eyes, but all europeans, I don't think I heard one American accent. 

Hassis is our new friend/bodyguard/tourguide. With very little English between him and nil swalhili between us,  we smiled alot at each other. I asked him if he had children. He replied, "yes, one daughter. She is 23." I asked him how old he was.  He replied, "37." 
Hassis works on a fishing boat with his brother. This is a fishing island. At the food park, the three of us   drank fresh press sugar cane juice, ate Zanzibar pizza, and had kabobs with sweet potato chips. It was good. I should have tried their octopus, calamari, or many fresh catch of the day, but I decided to giver my stomach a chance to acclimate. It just looked all good. I will definite try the seafood tomorrow.  

We walked around back to out hotel. I was glad hassis came along. stone town is surrounded by very old buildings and their streets are half the width of any American allyway i've ever been in. Lots of zigzagging. Locals perching at their stoop. Children playing futbol with a small stuffed animal. Very creative kids can be when have nothing. That was probably the memorable thing I saw today. It reminded me of Jody and Stephen Russell.  Boys will be boys, in las Vegas or in Zanzibar.