Evening Shopping in Stonetown
Wednesday, September 7, 2005 
This evening the four of us had a wander through the narrow streets of Stonetown and soon ended up bargaining with the street vendors who were everywhere. Between our haggling with the merchants and the Muslim influences in the architecture, I was reminded of my vis
it to cities in Morocco like Fes.
Although Stonetown has more of a pleasant tropical seaside flair.
Down by the beach, merchants laid out their wares on blankets and make-shift market-stalls and there was everything for sale here that we've seen along our route in east Africa: carvings, bead-work, trinkets. If you are on a safari which ends up in Zanzibar, and you really despise loading yourself down along the way, just wait to pick up souvenirs here in Stonetown. There will be plenty.
Later in the evening, we met some of our friends on the rooftop of a hotel bar called The Africa House , which is a landmark building which seems to have once been some sort of royal residence, and late
r turned into a colonial social club for ritzy British folk who held fancy-dress balls here at at the turn of the century. It is now a popular hangout for slightly less ritzy tourists.
And it's apparently the place in Stonetown to watch the sun set over the African mainland, but tonight it was overcast so we just sat with our drinks and watched the pinkish clouds and chatted.
I bought Anne-Dorte an iced-tea and shared my pizza with her as she regaled us with tales of learning to drive with African attitude on African roads.
For instance, when a driver approaches at great speed and flashes his lights to say "Get out of my way!" the appropriate response is for Anne-Dorte to flash back indignantly: "No! you get out of MY way!"
And somehow they will both manage to share the road.
That's driving that's way outside my comfort zone, but cheers to people like Anne-Dorte who can do it! And I believe the mirrors on our truck only got clipped a few times on this trip, so it all seems to work. As long as you're the bigger vehicle anyway.
This evening the four of us had a wander through the narrow streets of Stonetown and soon ended up bargaining with the street vendors who were everywhere. Between our haggling with the merchants and the Muslim influences in the architecture, I was reminded of my vis
it to cities in Morocco like Fes. Although Stonetown has more of a pleasant tropical seaside flair.
Down by the beach, merchants laid out their wares on blankets and make-shift market-stalls and there was everything for sale here that we've seen along our route in east Africa: carvings, bead-work, trinkets. If you are on a safari which ends up in Zanzibar, and you really despise loading yourself down along the way, just wait to pick up souvenirs here in Stonetown. There will be plenty.
Later in the evening, we met some of our friends on the rooftop of a hotel bar called The Africa House , which is a landmark building which seems to have once been some sort of royal residence, and late
r turned into a colonial social club for ritzy British folk who held fancy-dress balls here at at the turn of the century. It is now a popular hangout for slightly less ritzy tourists.And it's apparently the place in Stonetown to watch the sun set over the African mainland, but tonight it was overcast so we just sat with our drinks and watched the pinkish clouds and chatted.
I bought Anne-Dorte an iced-tea and shared my pizza with her as she regaled us with tales of learning to drive with African attitude on African roads.
For instance, when a driver approaches at great speed and flashes his lights to say "Get out of my way!" the appropriate response is for Anne-Dorte to flash back indignantly: "No! you get out of MY way!"
And somehow they will both manage to share the road.
That's driving that's way outside my comfort zone, but cheers to people like Anne-Dorte who can do it! And I believe the mirrors on our truck only got clipped a few times on this trip, so it all seems to work. As long as you're the bigger vehicle anyway.
posted by Spider Girl | 4:56 PM
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