Zanzibar January 19, 2009

From Dar es Salaam we took a two hour ferry ride to Zanzibar an Island off the coast of Tanzania. The ferry was fairly large with an open deck on top. It is a good idea to wear your swimsuit if you sit up on the deck, you may get caught off guard by the waves throughout the ride. By the end of the ride we had a clear idea of what salt water tastes like! Once we entered the port of Zanzibar, we were able to view countless fishing boats along the coastline of old stone buildings. We arrived and stayed in Stone Town, Zanzibar. Stone Town is beautiful, I could have explored the town for weeks! Narrow streets and allies were filled with vendors and Muslim men, women, and children. We dropped off our luggage at our hotel and then ate at a local restauraunt, where we ate native food. After lunch we went on a spice tour. We were able to see, smell, touch, and taste the fresh spices grown in Zanzibar. After a warm afternoon at the spice farm we went to one of many beaches on the Zanzibar coast. The tide was low, and we could walk out in knee length water for over a mile! A fabulous day it was :)