Tanganyika + Zanzibar = Tanzania – November 10
I can remember when I was in school (even though it was a
million years ago) that I had a hard time learning about African countries
because their names kept changing. Many
of the countries received their independence from European colonial rule during
the 50s and 60s and became known as something else. Some have changed names a few times in the
intervening years. Tanganyika was a
British colony until its independence in 1961.
In 1964, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged and became Tanzania.
We arrived after 9 am and I had a quick breakfast (pancakes
were delicious again) since I wasn’t sure when I would get back to the
ship. I didn’t have a tour today but
took the shuttle into the city and wandered around on my own. There was a welcoming committee with dancers,
music, men on stilts, and a huge snake as we left the ship. The shuttle into town did not take long and
we were dropped off at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at around 10:30. I had no idea where anything was (they don’t
give the port maps like they used to) so I walked for a bit and took some
pictures. I met lots of friendly people
(Jeremy had said in his port talk that people would say hello and to be
friendly back). It was very hot (we are
close to the equator) and I was about to come back to the ship when I met some ship
people who said I should walk to the fish market. It was at least a half mile, but it was right
along the water and I was intrigued since Jeremy had also mentioned this in his
talk.
I could smell the market before seeing it. It was amazing with fish being cut up,
cooked, smoked, and hundreds of people were doing their shopping. Across the street was a local marketplace where they sold shoes, used and new clothing, household items, drinks in
recycled plastic bottles, dried starfish, and many other things. It was not as busy as the fish market but
there were still many locals shopping.
By this time, I was really hot and started back to the
shuttle. I purchased a banana at a local
stand (bananas have to be about the safest fruit to eat in a foreign country)
and could have had a whole bunch for the dollar I paid them. The whole family thanked me again and again
as if I had given them a huge amount. I
enjoyed the banana on my walk back.
I was back onboard by about 12:30 and had to peal all of my
wet clothes off of me (even my face mask was soggy). I put on my bathing suit and went to the Lido
to have lunch and then a swim. There
were too many people in the pool to swim laps (four is too many) so I did water
aerobics. I sat in the sun for a while
and then back into the pool.
Caffeine was needed so I headed to the Crow’s Nest for Happy
Hour after showering and changing for a cold Diet Coke. I tried once more but still could not get
onto the internet (the whole day had been like that). Although I already had 6 miles for the day, I
decided to do one more lap around the deck and ended up doing two after talking
with a friend from the 2018 and 2020 GWV.
Only three of us for dinner so we finished quite early. I did a lap around the deck and then went to
the World Stage. For the first time this
cruise, we had local entertainers, The Tanzanian Boys Circus. I had heard from friends that had seen them
at the 7 pm show, that they were fantastic.
And they were right! The
acrobatic skills, juggling, etc. were
amazing. They got a standing ovation.
A final lap around the deck and back to work on the
blog. Excursion tomorrow.
Smooth sailing until next time!
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