Partenza
We left Milan Malpensa with Air Canada at 00.50 (with only 15 minutes later than the scheduled time, almost hyper-off!) At a time of
Zanzibar (the plane then continued to Mombasa), in-flight snack served before us and after dinner and then breakfast.
Upon check-in I asked the stewardess if she knew which side you see the Kilimanjaro (in a story I had read that one flies over!), I create a bit of panic in his face (what questions do I? She says Mauro) clearly does not know what to say. Viewing Window Let dx, hopefully good ... Instead .... At about 7:30 in the morning is the pilot to inform us that ... To our left (usual bad luck!) You can see Kilimanjaro. Clearly I can not see anything, patience!
We land on time, after 8h flight here we are finally in
Zanzibar! Time is unfortunately not the best, big threatening clouds in the sky do not promise anything good.
Pay me i ns. $ 50 even if they ask 50 € (the exchange rate of euro / dollars for them is 1:1) and immediately a police officer approached and asked Mauro money avoiding the opening of the suitcases. With a look polite but firm says no and the guy away to other tourists. I rushed into storage area. The withdrawal is faithful to the stories on the Web "feature"! lacks the conveyor belt to which workers are based on a chassis loaded the bags by hand. Things work well, you give them $ 1-2 to explain the color / type of your suitcase and bring them to you. Mauro's suitcase was delivered quickly and without anyone asking me anything, for me, give a dollar to a type to make it deliver as it was still in the adjacent room used for the unloading of luggage. We leave the airport and find the lady of the tour operator, we and other 2 couples of Turin are the 6 lucky to have bought the package on the internet.
The route is to recreate 1H, began filming everything, is the first time that I carry the camera on the go, I want to capture as much information as possible! During the journey I ask the guide if I buy a SIM from a local operator to call in Italy at rates much lower. We only dollars, with 10 card and buy a recharge from 5000 sh (the rest is missing, of course!) Either fully exploited during the week while making several phone calls and text messages every day. I got a No. of Zantel, but there are also other companies ..
Arriving at the hotel, we are served a welcome cocktail, we labeled these bracelets hated by the village and then .. finally in the room for putting on costume and rush to the beach .......
What moves me most is the color of sand, white, white and soft as talcum powder. Those damn clouds do not do justice to the colors of the sea in the following days we are fortunate to admire.
Zanzibar has been written about everything and more! In my small way I write only of practical advice to those who will go after me.
I want to make a preliminary, are one of those travelers who can not renounce his beautiful suitcase 20kg (outward, because the return still weighs 10kg more!).
This time, aware of many things I have minimized my luggage to bring as many gifts as possible. Needless to say that what brings is never enough! Everywhere, there is someone who is happy to accept your thinking. This is not charity, you know it, the contact with these people simply triggers a response of generosity in the heart of everyone.
Anything not wear anymore and that you think might be helpful Take it! Clothes, shoes, toys. Bought them pens, pencils, markers ... The smile of a child who also receives a simple pencil is priceless! Bring something with you always, even if you go for a walk on the beach: You may encounter a child, like "Marco", so her father (Masai) called him, ready to give unsorriso disarming the sight of a teddy. The beach of the fishermen instead awaits a beautiful girl, a little fashion model, will charm you with her innocent eyes. Then there are the beach boys, friends to the entire vacation. Remember your name for all time, even if you told her half-time. (How many times have you present to people and 1secondo after not remember the name of it?). They, being closer to "we" Westerners, suffer much more than that damn status symbol brands. As if you blame him excited about a pair of shoes' s adidas? Rely on them without any problem, it is not true, as they say TO people who are unreliable. Personally I did it 4 trips (safari blue stone town & Spice Tour, turtles) and I've never had any kind of problem.
With hindsight I realize that I could bring many more things. Sweets such as! Several people advised not to bring sweets to children evitari problems of tooth decay. True, but ... I have regretted it very much.
+ Beautiful memories of
Zanzibar are linked to the faces of those children that I met. I know I have not done anything, in fact, I could do much more ... but it is you who can do more, right?
.. Enjoy your trip to all, Jambo!