Off to Zanzibar!

The bicycle ride to work this morning went well. I am beginning to suspect, however, that the Tanzanian version of a clown is a mzungu on a bike. Everyone I passed seemed to think I was the funniest thing they'd seen all morning. I think Uswege's words to me yesterday hold true: "Every man in a car is king! He doesn't care about you on your little bicycle." Having a car is a status symbol and someone who owns a car would never ever not in a million years ride a bike. In the US it feels like the opposite holds true: riding a bike is the status symbol- "Look how cool and environmentally conscious I am!" Anyway, I appreciate the exercise I'm getting, so I say to hell with cultural norms and expectations!

Well, by now you're probably wondering about the title of this post. I'm going to Zanzibar this weekend with Sally, a friend of Sally's and two of Sally's Friend's friends. I just wanted to write that out. Their names are Meredith, Miranda, and Adrian. Meredith and Sally are from the same university, though I think Meredith is an undergrad. She met Miranda and Adrian this summer on a study abroad program in Uganda. Now they are all traveling around together until school starts in August. Sounds like a blast to me.

I'm leaving work after lunch to meet up with them. We're going to try to take the 4pm ferry to Zanzibar. At least, my guide book says there is a 4pm ferry. Who knows what reality will present us with. Sally is going to check the ticket booths this morning and call me if our plans have to suddenly change. The fast ferry takes about 1.5 hours and is about $35 for one way. Some of the girls want to spend the day on Zanzibar's beautiful beaches, but I'd rather explore Stonetown and see the old buildings. The island has been inhabited by various ethnic groups for at least the last two thousand years and is supposed to reflect styles from African, Arabic and Asian cultures. It’s supposedly more expensive than the mainland, but not anywhere near the cost of a tourist destination in the US or Europe. Everything is relative here.

I probably won’t post again until Monday, but you’ll finally get to see some pictures! (Provided, of course, that no one runs off with my camera.)