Jambo from Tanzania!
An hour’s drive from Kilimanjaro Airport in Tanzania lies a little corner of paradise called Arusha Serena Hotel. We arrived after dark when the paths were lit with small low lamps and the whole place looked like a fairy wonderland.
I grabbed this photo of a standard room from the hotel website (little slideshow arrows and all). I think they must have taken it in my room. At night when the mosquito netting is drawn, it’s like an enchanted secret hideaway.
Today was a day spent “in leisure,” that is, for people to work on jet lag. Some of our group arrived last night direct from the US, not having taken a few days to adjust to the ten hour time change from the North American west coast.
This morning an optional leisure activity included a visit to the open air market in Arusha. This very busy market sells pretty well everything – produce, meats and fish, rakes, dusters, used shoes. A young man took us around while fending off others who wanted the honour and the eventual tip. I asked the people in the photos below for permission to take their photo and rewarded them, as they well knew I would, with a $1US. For people who probably earn $5US per day, a 20% increase in their income feels substantial.
Here are some of the products for sale:
At the “women’s market” only women can sell their goods. Men can purchase them of course!
The reflection on a bullding across from the market caught my eye as we left. The shiny glass building in close proximity to the somewhat primative open market is a sign of economic activity benefitting someone somewhere, just not those in the market.
Tomorrow we leave for the Tarangire National Park and our first game drive.
Kwa kusisimua! 🙂
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