Zanzibar - 2009  (After the Safari)

The safari was over, now comes the time to unwind and relax. The airport in Zanzibar is one of the smallest I have been in. It was mostly open air, so the humidity was very high. I was great to get in a vehicle with air conditioning. We stayed in two different parts of the island;

First half: Nungwi - Mnarani Beach Cottages

The resort was good, It had a pool, bar and the ocean. We were staying in the "honeymoon suite" because were we there right before our 15th anniversary. I think Jen got more bug bites from that place than in her whole lifetime. It was here that we finally got some diving in. The water was blue and smooth, but the current was fast. If you saw something cool to look at, look quick. You were not able to turn around and go back, there was just to much current. If you get a chance to go, do not use East Africa Divers. The dive masters are just beach bums on vacation, and you are expected to carry all the tanks and gear back to the shop after. Nungwi was hot, it was humid, my kind of place really.

Second Half: Stonetown - Zanzibar Palace Hotel

Stone Town is the old city and cultural heart of Zanzibar, and was recently declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The town consists of a labyrinth of narrow alleys to houses, shops, bazaars, and mosques. Cars are often too wide to drive down many of the maze of winding streets. I know it is an old place but it could use some TLC it was quite dirty in some places. It was in Stonetown we were able to use our bartering skills to pick up souvenirs. We spent an afternoon on Prison Island at the giant turtle sanctuary and then snorkeling. I have never seen so many sea stars at one time. We spent some lazy afternoons at Mercury's, a bar named after Freddie Mercury who was born in Zanzibar.

The Africa part of the trip was over, and we are off to Paris.