Last day in Zanzibar

Trip Start Jun 11, 2011

Trip End Jun 26, 2011

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Flag of Tanzania Stone Town, Zanzibar Archipelago, Tanzania
Friday, June 24, 2011

We had one last fantastic breakfast at the Zanzibar Retreat Hotel and said our final good-byes. We walked with our backpacks to the dala-dala station a few hundred metres from the hotel. The dala-dala arrived on time and was already half-full. You board a dala-dala from the back, so we entered, I smacked my head on the roof, then we walked all the way to the front. This was our first mistake. Once it got crowded, we were squished more and more against the wall and I felt very claustrophobic. If I had been sitting near the "door", which is really just a door frame in the canopy, I think I would have felt fine. At least then I would be able to see my exit route in case of emergency. Eventually there were about 25 people crowded in and one chicken. But the chicken was very well-behaved and sat on his owner's lap, looking rather sleepy as the owner stroked the chicken's feathers. On top of the dala-dala we had large stacks of firewood, several cages of chickens, sacks of coconut leaves and our two backpacks. It was certainly an experience.

Every bump and stop sent the weight of ten people on top of me. The extreme driving didn't help the situation. I started planning escape routes in case of a crash. I kept looking behind me at the slats in the frame and wondering if I could squeeze through it. The frame was made of iron so I couldn't break it, and I would definitely be the last one out in an emergency situation using the door. I realized I would more likely be crushed under the weight of numerous bodies and be trapped, unable to move or make any sound to indicate I'm still alive to would-be rescuers. I decided that paying 1,000 Tsh is better than 60,000 for a taxi, but I would have been much more comfortable in a taxi.

When we were finally in Stone Town, out of the dala-dala on hard ground with our lives still in tact, we both said to each other that we should take a taxi to the airport. We walked to our favourite place in Stone Town, the Zanzibar Coffee House, where we were remembered - even my name! - and greeted like old friends again. We had crepes for lunch and then they offered to watch our bags while we waited to go to the airport. I hope one day we can come back here. Zanzibar is truly magical!

We decided to do some souvenir shopping before we left Tanzania. We filled our carry-ons with teas, coffee and spices and negotiated a taxi for later. We returned to the coffee house to escape the intense heat and relax with a cool iced cappuccino with ice cream. Our taxi seller picked us up and escorted us to the taxi. Because the coffee house is in the narrow alleys of Stone Town, the taxis have to park elsewhere and someone has to show you where that is.

We got to the airport and tried to spend our last Tanzanian money in the little shops. We ended up with some Pringles. We sat in front of an air conditioner in the waiting lounge and ate our chips. From here we fly to Dar, then on to Ethiopia for two nights. I am sad to leave Zanzibar and Tanzania behind but am looking forward to seeing a bit of Addis Abbaba tomorrow. It is hard to accept that our fabulous vacation is almost over!