Jambo jambo Zanzibar.. Exploring the beautiful sea of Tanzania
29 December 2009: Zanzibar 11.00, after a flight from Bari quiet even if the party two hours late here we are, the heat is unbearable, but maybe it's because we wear down jackets and boots. The airport is scary, dirty little jam-packed with locals who asks you for money just to move the baggage of a meter, fortunately, here is the contact person for the tour operator that lets us get on a bus with air conditioning, and right away Palumbo to the Village to Uroa.
Looking out the window once you realize that you're in Africa and you wonder how is it possible that there are people living in houses (2mX2m) were built with mud and water without light and yet she smiles?
Hakuna Matata! ... They have nothing and yet for all zanzibirini .... Hakuna Matata!
We reach the village where some Masai welcome us, and after hurried up the usual practice we are finally in the room comfortable, not luxurious but clean ... the cute four-poster bed surrounded by mosquito nets ... and then the scent of the flowers scattered on the beds. Finally we can get rid of winter clothing and wear something more appropriate to 32 ° ... and here we are around the village but we are mostly on the sea. The whiteness of the sand and the sun's blinding glare, before our eyes is perhaps unique in a landscape. We had heard about but none of us could imagine it like this: "I speak of the tides ..." the sea has retreated by more than a mile over there and take the extraordinary colors from white to almost transparent blue distance of all the shades of ' blue
Unfortunately, it is lunchtime and we can not linger to enjoy this paradise, however, we just got here we will appreciate these beauties.
After a lunch that is a mixture of Italian and local cuisine in the afternoon we decide to go straight back to the beach ... but the tide has changed and become so low and high tide, to be honest, at this stage is not so beautiful, the sea is' normal 'a bit rough and there are also a bit' of algae. The alternative at this time of high tide is a lovely pool.
30-December: the day of complete relaxation and is willing to go to the beach and visit the sea that retiring is astonishing.
And so in the hot sun, not a way of saying, let's start our walk on the beach or better on that part of the sea has retreated. The sand is soft and pleasant to walk ... do not really know where to look on the one hand there is the beach, with its vegetation of coconut palms, which contrasts with the whiteness of the sand, then there is this part of the sea on which we walking where you find beautiful seashells and starfish huge especially the different colors, and then infuse the sea there. When you finally get that you can not lie down and enjoy these lagoons of crystal clear water, if you want to swim but you have to bring you some fisherman with the classic "dhow" towards the reef. Walking on the sand are also occasionally crop of algae in some places turned into a marsh near the sea and the landscape takes on an almost surreal, and the inhabitants of Zanzibar collect algae, are dried and sent to Asia and is , with the spices, their main source of income. Everywhere you go there are always children who come to meet you and would like anything really ... but then what if they do ... their life is surprisingly simple, hard to understand our own pace of life. ... But that's the beauty of Zanzibar! Children's eyes shine with a light different from that of our children.
31 December: Last day of the year .. waiting for the big party year-end we went to visit
an aquarium with turtles in the north of the island but most of all we went on the beach of Nungwi to watch the sunset, this is one of the few beaches where there is the phenomenon of tides .. charming little romantic, but unfortunately due the presence of many people. And here we return to the village time to shower and so the party starts. A wonderful evening, good evening, nice animation, bingo balls, but mostly in the company of all staff and the Maasai. ... A special greeting to Marco and Raphael, two Maasai friends that I've seen jumping from the World Cup after I gave him 70 euro ... and end at midnight swim in the pool.
1-January 2010: sunbathing and sea
2-January: we visited a spice plantation, our guide is Giorgino .. "as he puts a name guaranteed" ... very nice! See the plants of lemon grass, cinnamon ol'albero or nutmeg, cloves .. pick them up and smell the scent of green .. walking in the plantation and receive gifts made from coconut leaves for us citizens of the West does not happen every day. Then visit to Stone Town, the capital or rather the 'single urban settlement on the island. Unfortunately, despite several nice things to be seen how the slave market hours Anglican church, the House of Wonders, the house where he was born Freddy Mercury, the market and several doors inlaid and decorated, the city is chaotic, dirty .. tin sheds or dilapidated houses are everywhere.
January 3 to 4: two days of complete relaxation retracing km of beautiful beach with nice Maasai, with their stalls, their Kembo? colorful, beaded bracelets at the wrists and ankles, their dances and make merry this holiday unforgettable
5-January: return to Italy with many organizational problems at the airport too small and inadequate to allow the travel of thousands of people.
All this and much remains in the heart is .... ... Zanzibar Jambo!
I leave you with the famous and lively song and its translation:
Jambo Jambo Bwana (Hello, hello gentlemen)
Habari Gani nzuri sound (how are you? Very good!)
Wagen wakaribishwa (visitors welcome)
Zanzibar yetu Hakuna matata (no problem in our Zanzibar)