Feb 1st. After breakfast we headed to the ferry port at about 08:30, arriving just before 09:00. Before boarding I lost my temper over having to put my phone separately on a tray through the security scanner. Once on board the ferry I wanted my Samsung phone but noticed it wasn’t with me. I realised I hadn’t taken it out of the tray as I wrestled with my rucksack at Security. I managed to keep relatively calm and ran back to security to find my phone on the desk. I just made it back to the ferry before it sailed. Can’t express my feelings/emotions other than sheer relief. What a major disaster that would’ve been had I not noticed my phone was missing and I had lost it.
A quick one and a half hour crossing to Zanzibar. Quickly through immigration and walked to Aurelia without getting lost. I was hoping nothing had gone wrong with the booking, but all was well. We were a bit early and had to wait a little while, but we got our rooms for the excellent price of 70,000Tsh…or about 23Gbp. It helps to be a regular customer. I paid for 3 days out of the 6.
We went to Lukmans across the road for chai. I washed a shirt and a pair of socks. I found the travel agency I used in October and booked the same flight as Mark to Arusha on the 7th. Was told $60 again and calculated that to be about 158,000Tsh. I said I paid 153,000tsh last time and would he accept 150,000tsh …which he did. So a good bit of bargaining there..!!!
Walked to the waterfront and over to Patamu. Then to Travellers Cafe next door for the sunset. I went for Urojo just around the corner; bought some water and went to bed.
Feb 2nd. Great breakfasts at Aurelia. I went on walkabout to nowhere in particular. Mark and I had chai at Lukmans again.
I took it relatively easy. I picked up my air ticket Zanzibar to Arusha. I went for a swim; I like the beach here because the water gets deep quickly so no walking far out to be able to have a swim. And good from a security point of view because your possessions are close by on the beach.
Patamu was visited in the late afternoon. I saw a bottle of Zanzi (cream liqueur similar to Amarula) on the alcohol bottle shelf and got a bit of a craving…I persuaded the manager to go around the corner to buy a 750ml bottle. There was a slightly confusing discussion on price but I gave him 25,000 (only 8Gbp) and he returned with the bottle. I went on to Darajani for urojo….just around the corner from the hotel. I love urojo…you know what you’re getting and you’re served quickly.
Feb 3rd. Great breakfast. General walking around. Met up with friend Paul at the waterfront. Patamu of course..met with Renier who I last saw in October . He’s a German who wants to invest in Zanzibar and live here permanently. I went to Maru Maru for a change; it’s 3 or 4 storeys high, so the top floor restaurant/bar/pool has good views over Stone Town.
Feb 4th. I switched rooms with Mark; I now have a balcony that overlooks the small square; I think the same room when I first stayed in Dec ’22. As I was moving into the new room, Hussein passed by with a TV and asked if I wanted it in my room. I said Yes, why not. It was part of the upgrading of their hotel rooms. I hardly watched it, but it was another option.
Mark’s son Baraka had a day off work and came to visit. Mark treated me to a masala chai at Karafu Coffee house opposite the old Fort. I went for a swim; came back to the hotel for a shower. We went to Patamu, and I had rum cocktail for a change. I had an urojo as usual, but I think I’ll need to vary my diet !!
Feb 5th & 6th. I’m enjoying just taking it really easy. Breakfast; tea across the road at Lukmans; a swim; very hot out there and I could only take about 45 minutes in the sun before I started panting for air; walkabouts; a rum cocktail at Patamu.
I took a few photos of Tembo House Htl to send to Jennie in Auckland who will be staying at Tembo for a few days in June. Mark and I looked in at Emerson Spice as somewhere different to have a drink, but didn’t like the prices or the welcome that we got. In the evening we noticed a different hotel just around the corner from Aurelia and decided to have a last drink there.
Today I finally found one shortcut between Aurelia and Patamu; I just hope I can remember it !! A nice swim; I didn’t realise how therapeutic swimming is. Normally I’m in and out of the water and keeping a close eye on my things on the beach, so it’s not relaxing, but I really enjoy the Stone Town beach…it feels safe. I returned to the hotel to shower, then to Patamu where Renier was as well. A Japanese guy had overdone it on the drugs and had to be helped into a tuk tuk.
I ate rice and beans and greens for my early dinner then bought chevda and water on the way back to the hotel. Met up with Mark and we went nearby to the Zanzibar Palace hotel ( only 9 rooms but very smart ) where Mark had some battered chicken strips (incredibly tasty) and he bought me a beer. So that was the end of my 6th and last day on Zanzibar.
I’m sure I’ve said it before, but am now a big fan of Zanzibar. The lovely waterfront with its palm trees; the narrow streets. Yes, most of Stone Town is very touristy but you can still escape all that and mix with ordinary Zanzibarians.