I decided to celebrate the achievement of getting a TZ visa by going to Moshi for the weekend. A relatively quick trip..hour and a quarter…and after a coffee on arrival I went to check in at Basecha Garden Lodge. An interesting stay as I got chatting to fellow travellers – Finnish and an Italian. Had the customary tandoori chicken at Kaka’s.
There was a tragedy in Moshi that weekend when, at a mass worship, some holy water or oil was spilled on the ground and in the ensuing rush/stampede to get some of the all-curing holy ointments, 20 people were killed. Very sad. The preacher was arrested a couple of days later trying to leave the country from Dar.
Sunday was relaxing , and I took Anita out to dinner at Kakas. She was someone I happened to meet at the Greek church a month earlier. Great food as usual at Kaka’s.
Didn’t do much the next day either. Found a supermarket that sold Zanzi – the local equivalent of Amarula – at the lowest price ever for a on litre bottle. One of the staff questioned the price, but I bought it quickly before they changed their minds. Put the bottle flat and wrapped with a t-shirt in my little backpack to get it across the border on Tuesday. Strictly speaking illegal to take TZ goods into Kenya.
After waiting for a gas bottle to arrive at the hotel on Tues morning in order that my omelette could be cooked !!, I caught a Matatu back to Holili and on to Taveta. I sent my passport up to Nairobi by courier to enable Charles to get me an annual Kenya multi entry visa. Of course the $100 equivalent soon followed. It was duly returned by Friday..extremely quick. So I celebrated on Sat by across to Holili for kiti moto at Mamka’s. Called into Kings Palace on the way and saw near completion of a new kitchen that will be used to cook kiti moto….shall be trying that out very soon.
On Sunday I cycled to El Doro..just under an hour. Good views back to Taveta and lake Challa, and the other way to the Pare mts in TZ. 20 mins from home was a good time to stop at The Place for a drink….it was a very hot day !! Nice spot..peaceful,quiet…in the countryside.
On Wed I cycled to Grogans Castle. Spoke to Basil first to let his staff know to expect me and let me in/up this time. He appreciated I wanted to go and pay my respects to his son Alex who died last Sept and is buried at Grogans.
That’s all until yesterday, Sunday 16. Went with Kristin to Democracy or Mfalme bar where all the drunks and druggies hang out. Was quite safe with Kristin as my guide, but not the sort of place I would venture to in the dark. And Spurs scored a goal in the last minute and won 3:2 !!