We finally in Zanzibar. The flight lasted about eight hours and although I did not sleep at night. The impact is tremendous just got off the plane. It's cold, the sky is black and there's crazy humidity. The airport has a runway only once off the plane cross the street and you enter a small building to collect your luggage. The conveyor belt for luggage is made by a human chain that passes from hand to hand luggage up to the bank withdrawal. Some were opened for inspection, but there were those who paid to avoid it and I honestly did not understand why. Perhaps carrying things that are not allowed? And if so, pay enough to turn a blind eye? Mah .. After taking our case we pay the $ 25 visa and exit: a bunch of kids run towards us asking for everything, especially coins. I was not prepared, I would at least satisfy some, but our guide tells us to get on the bus and not to listen to children. As if it was easy. But since he is local, if you say so it will be better heard. Let's go, we go through the forest, in the middle of nowhere. Every now and then to the sides of the road we see some mud house built in the middle: with the little money he earns people buy what they can to build a house, but never manages to finish it, the money ends up right away. We come across any child who greets us with his hand, I begin to feel guilty, I have everything and they have nothing. Yet they smile and look happy. Why? We arrived in the village that now it was raining, and as expected gave us the room we looked a bit 'around: gardens, sofas wood, the roofs of the structures in woven wood. Our room was on the second floor of a house, and accompanied us while I was able to prevent me carrying the suitcase (as I saw women come and go with your luggage on your head I refused to take mine too, which weighed too much). Simple room with a mosquito net on the bed (a mattress and uncomfortable) a balcony and a kitchen with table and chairs.
on the balcony of our room, we just got here and I did not realize where they are ...
We were disoriented, we were not ever feel that way. We were in Africa, an island not too large, among poor people, arranged in a resort! But as I thinking? Fatigue does see things in a strange way, we decide to make a leap to see the sea and go to sleep.
finally see the palm trees behind the beach and the sea ... what a show!
was just out of the sun, the reflection on the beautiful white sand was blinding, and while we were trying to get used to all that light sudden we were "surrounded" by a score of people who filed trips, those who wanted to take pictures in his shop, who made bracelets .... give us time to understand where we are! A strength of "Tomorrow, let's talk tomorrow," we're back Room enough.
the following day with the sun and the temperature more pleasant start to settle. I am pleased that almost all the staff of the place. The bartender is very proud of his coffee machine, and immediately makes friends with Lore, which talk a lot, but I follow the course in Swahili. Every now and then the sky suddenly turns black and raining cats and dogs for about ten minutes, then check again the sun. Many times, however, the sky remained gray all day and at night we wanted a sweatshirt.
The beach is public, and the locals use it to move like a city street, on foot, horseback, moped. All those to whom we said "come back tomorrow," are back on time the next day, just that we were talking at a distance because we were in the deck that is off limits for them, so that is guarded by bouncers Masai version ...
bicycles on the beach
The sea, sand and sky are an incredible color
The water is transparent, and even a little ' chilly, even if the sun is hot
There were several cats (especially near the restaurant), and I've seen enormous insects. Sometimes in the roofs of wood, including logs, saw run and jump the bushbaby. At night the white sand of the beach is covered with crabs.
We made friends with a guy who lived on the beach, went by the name Ronaldo, (but no one ever said his real name). He enjoyed long walks on the beach Kiwegwa with us, and chat. A morning was enough to see a movement of a cloud, or do not know what else to recommend to go straight back. In fact, after about twenty minutes it started to rain very strong, but thanks to him we were safe. He told us that the pier on the beach where there was a restaurant - disco had burned the inhabitants of the beach, in protest against the tourists. How to blame him? All the beach (their beach) is a succession of villages, where there is water, food and every kind of comfort, in spite of their living conditions.
The second time I saw the girl who called me to let me braids felt I did not tell you yet another "tomorrow", so I followed. He took me by the hand and led me in the palm forest where the other women waiting. They did not speak Italian, we understood each other with gestures and smiles. The work was long, in the meantime, three became six, a lock of hair each. They chatted and laughed without stopping, I did not understand anything but I felt at ease, even though I was in a strange place, sitting on a tree trunk, with people who did not understand the language. A few hours later I was completely numb but finally they were done, and I did a lot of compliments! I paid $ 30, I bought an object of wood carving was a boy next door, and I promised to advertise it amongst women of the resort.
With the big head full of braids and fake hair I feel a little 'a pineapple!
One morning Ronaldo took us to visit the school on the beach. The principal spoke to us in English and told us that the elementary, one for older kids and another for adults. A classroom had a tin roof thanks to a donation of a Milan pair, the other hand, unfortunately, become unusable when it rains. We entered the classroom, and showed us with pride a child's notebook. They need everything. They write in pencil and the book ends when you remove and use again. (All books are rewritten several times). We need pencils, erasers, paper, but especially money. They need external help to advance the education project.
One day we were in Stone Town, the old capital of Zanzibar. I was impressed by the market, the stalls of fruit and spices are an explosion of colors. There are two covered markets, a meat and a fish. There are no refrigerators, the meat is kept hanging, and I must admit that cross this part was awesome. I did not want to offend anyone hold your nose, so I made apnea, but I was hoping Idris (our guide) did as quickly as possible. In
around Stone Town
Hakuna Matata!
From Stone Town we take a ferry to go to Prison Island. The blackest sky makes the trip a little disturbing ...
We landed on Prison Island, the one behind me is the ferry that brought us here!
the prison visiting only the remains, and then go to see the giant tortoises! There was one really old (that was huge) with the shell broken. We must not sit on the turtles!!
There is also a nursery, a place indoors because children alike are prey for birds. Are tiny and cute!
Back in Stone Town we took a trip to the market
Everyone laughs here too ...
After visiting many places have brought us to this bar to take a drink to be enjoyed on the terrace
As it is almost evening, the terrace of the bar we saw this beautiful sunset over the sea .... It 'was the only time we could see the sun dive into the sea, that Stone Town is to the west, while to the east Kiwengwa.
One evening we are plunged into total darkness. The whole island in the dark. The current comes directly from Tanzania, which periodically, for political or economic (or both) interrupts the supply. The complete darkness is something that has shape, envelops you and you suffocate but after the initial panic has the power to make you feel part of nature, with no light on which you have no control. Luckily when it happened we were near our room, since there is not even the moon where we came up with a lot of difficulties. That's why there were candles in the room, and I thought they were a romantic accessory!
One day we went to a fishing village. Already in the morning you could see that the weather would be bad, but our guides were optimistic and cheerful as always. That day, as well as Idris was also Miki, and I had lots of fun! They made us get on a boat and fishing village as he points to the waves of the sea were always higher. It seems that here you will always meet the dolphins, but apparently there were none that day because of bad weather. It rocked so much that nobody cared about that nut shell to see them, we just wanted to get to shore. Of course not! Undeterred, Idris standing with the telescope to scan the waves did not give to win until yelled "Here!" ... But where? We are going to sink and someone is throwing up for several minutes, never mind the dolphins! Instead there were really, but that effort!
I managed to capture dolphins in the waves!
Finally on the ground it took us a bit 'to recover from the adventure, and brought us lunch in a kind of mess on the beach. Rice, coconut and some shellfish. Began to get local children, who then made the road with us to get to the village. We walked one and was sandwiched between us, a hand to me, one in Lore, looked at me and sang the song of Zanzibar.
After many waves, we landed on this beach
The children ran to greet us!
A little girl looked at me, seemed to want to ask me something but did not dare. Then he extended a finger pointing to my head, I touched, I had a clothespin. I have removed the "do you want?", If you put immediately on the hair and was quite happy! I wanted to cry. A lady gave the children a book, and I've never seen so much happiness, rejoiced at the sight of that treasure, an incredible scene.
Children's eyes I remained in my heart. I visited wonderful places, the sea, the beaches are nothing without those eyes.
In the fishing village, little girls are more timid of the boys
Another day we went to a strip of sand that disappears at high tide. The beauty of the beaches here is due to the beautiful white sand that seems to flour, and the color of the sea. In water there are very few fish, also going with the mask is little or nothing. The reef is quite far from the coast. While admiring the scenery somewhere in the forest, our guides prepared lunch. Spend so much time in nature lose track of time, and raise awareness of the important things, giving the right value to material things.
Group photo after lunch in a secluded beach
... And when I say lost I am not exaggerating!
That evening we returned late to the resort, was already very dark and the coach saw only the stars. Idris woke us up just before to go down, he wanted to greet us with a story. "My grandmother when I was little I always sang a song, now I sing to you. I do not know if you know it makes me .." and while we expected to feel some kind of folk song Zanzibar attacks to sing "In the Dark Continent, the slopes of Kilimanjaro, we are a nation of niggas who invented so many balls ...." ! Of course, after the laughter we sang together in elementary style tour!
Jozani We went to Forest, to see the red apes
Palm trees are very high
of monkeys there are many, all the palm trees, very frightened by people. This, however, if I went around quite bold!
so I spent two weeks in this wonderful island, where we saw beautiful places and people from the giant heart. We have some shirts left to Ronaldo, the latest pens to the kids to the beach and we made a turn into "Via Roma", in the shops on the beach with Italian names, from "The Rinascente" to "Valentine" where I bought canvases and many souvenirs.
One evening we witnessed a spectacle of the Masai, who is to leap incredibly high!
They say that if you forget something in a place (the hotel in general) means that one day we will return. Do not think I forgot anything, but I definitely left a piece of my heart Zanzibar.
I want to be here!
