Getting to Zanzibar

Friday was Wonderful 

We had breakfast at 7, and I taught my Astronomy class from 9 - 12:40. It is a long time in the classroom, but I gave a 15 minute break twice. The afternoon was free, so everyone could relax, swim, nap, go to town, and so forth.

 Swimming in the ocean was amazing. Little one foot waves, warm water... Whenever our college students go swimming, the coconut telegraph starts buzzing and soon there are about two children for each of our students swimming with them. Everyone is having a good time. The children are fascinated with our hair. They want to touch and stroke it. We had another lazy dinner under the pavilion by the ocean. Everyone is getting accustomed to seeing critters. Last night as everyone was chilling after a dinner, a big crab scuttled across the floor to a lot of gasps. Then it climbed up the tablecloth at the buffet. A serving staff finally noticed, and when she approached, the crab ran off.

The Trip to Zanzibar 

Saturday we left Bagamoyo at 9:00. Fortunately Ryan arranged that we could leave our stuff in our rooms while we are gone, so we only needed to take three and a half days of clothes and items. We were squeezed in a small bus. The seats were four across including a fold-down jump seat in the middle. On arrival in Dar es Salaam, we toured the National Museum, then drove to lunch. After lunch we arrived at the Fast Ferry Terminal at 1:30 to catch the 3:00 ferry. It was hot, but fortunately there was some shade to wait in. We were solicited to buy food and drinks the whole time we waited. Getting on the ferry was chaotic. But we made it. The "reserved seating" only meant we were guaranteed a seat in the air-conditioned first class cabin, so there was quite a push to get in there first. We all managed to sit close to each other for the two hour ride. They were showing Unstoppable starring Denzel Washington about a runaway freight train in Pennsylvania. It was funny to see familiar terrain while on the ferry to Zanzibar. The boat pulled up to the dock before the movie ended, so a lot of people crowded around the monitors to watch the outcome. We saw the train stopped, but not the resolution of all of the mini-dramas the characters were involved in.

After waiting to get through immigration (Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous region) and x-raying our baggage, we all piled on another small bus for the 10 minute ride to the Tembo Hotel (The Elephant Hotel). It has an amazing location and view. The rooms have old-style beds and furniture. A nice bathroom, and dining overlooking the ocean. Great place!

Mass with the Bishop of Zanzibar

We went to mass this morning with the Bishop of Zanzibar presiding. Amazing mostly a capella singing with beautiful harmonies, in Swahili, by a choir all dressed in red. Booming male basses filled the room with amazing soprano melodies punctuated by trilling ululations. It was shiver inducing. They were in no hurry to rush through mass. The bishop gave a 15 minute homily (in Swahili). The entire mass lasted and hour an 45 minutes. It was unforgettable.

After the mass everyone except me went on a walking tour of Stonetown (the old part of the capital city here.) I went back to the hotel to catch up on grading. I am working, you know.