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* 04/03/2012 – sorry for the lack of updates lately but we’re now back from a week of kayaking around Chizimulu and Likoma islands (both absolutely beautiful spots) in Lake Malawi so am playing catch up. We’ll get back on track with the posts soon!
We left the beach and headed back to Stone Town by ‘daladala’ (a form of local transport which is basically a semi-open van with benches running along both sides of the back and the aim of the game is to see how many people and their belongings you can squeeze in – we started our journey hanging on to the railings at the back of the van still carrying our backpacks but fortunately soon got seats for the rest of the hour long trip).
I was pretty excited to get back to Stone Town and we spent a further three days getting lost along more alleyways, enjoying good food (there’s a lovely little place behind the main post office called Lazuli where we had lunch twice. It’s owned by a South African woman and her Zanzibari husband – their baby is one of the chubbiest I’ve seen in ages – and I tucked into their version of a bunny chow – not nearly as amazing as a proper Durban bunny chow but still quite tasty and very decoratively arranged), taking yet more pictures of Zanzibar doors and happily indulging in my obsession of buying brightly coloured textiles, which I’ve yet to decide what to do with them.
Lazuli's version of a bunny chow
More Lazuli loveliness - passion fruit and vanilla soda
We also did a bit of cultural sightseeing including a rather depressing visit to the site of the former slave trade market (ashamedly a practice introduced to Zanzibar by the Portuguese in the 16th century) where we were shown the small, dark underground cells the men, women and children were kept in while waiting to be sold (well, those that were strong enough to survive in the first place) and took a walk up the winding staircases of the House of Wonders, one of the most prominent buildings in the old town, built in the 1880s as a ceremonial palace. It was the first building to have electricity and a lift (which I don’t think works anymore) in 1913.
Here a few more snapshots:
Further wanderings in Stone Town
A typical Stone Town alleyway
More lovely Zanzibar doors, sadly a lot of them in disrepair
The perfect spot for a cold one
The monument to the slaves
View of Stone Town from the balcony of the House of Wonders
The House of Wonders and the Old Fort at dusk
The delights of the Forodhani Gardens food market
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I’d love one of those doors as a cellar door in Nandufe! and I love the placemats (but very happy with mine, though!). Stone Town looks amazing, especially the alleyways, old buildings, children playing happily in the sandy streets …
Comment by Cheryl March 4, 2012 @ 7:55 pmHappy travelling!
Love Mom
I’d quite like one of those doors in my house some day too :-) We actually got Gran sinmilar placemats from that very cafe (I like ours too though). We loved Stone Town – would definitely recommend it! xxxx
Comment by albertocuesta March 4, 2012 @ 8:15 pmBrings back good memories. I still love those doors! Great pics! Safe travels. x
Comment by Valerie McIntosh March 6, 2012 @ 7:18 pm