Sunset Saturday XXIII

The sunset during our last evening in Jambiani. It was low tide and so we were able to walk out quite a bit on the beach. Turning back, we caught the sunset behind the village with lots of people enjoying the evening atmosphere, women wading through the little pools of water and a bunch of children playing football on the beach. It was such a nice, calm atmosphere and a perfect ending to our holiday...

little italy

We spent some time on the East coast of Zanzibar, in a wind-swept place called Uroa.
All the locals (and the "Massai") spoke Italian, as most of the tourists coming there are from Italy.

Our hotel was a nice little place, owned by an Italian (of course), who had trained the chef to serve Italian-inspired food such as Risotto, Spaghetti al Frutti di Mare and Prosciutto. It was delish!
The beach was nice, too, and we went for long walks, collecting shells and watching the water come and go.
But the best place was the hammock under the trees by the pool, where I spent hours just reading and taking some naps in between.

rooftop rally

We spent a lot of time in Stonetown climbing stairs in various buildings to enjoy the stunning views on the many open rooftop spaces the city has to offer.

For breakfast at our hotel, we sat down to this view.
The House of Wonders offered these fantastic views over the city and the water.
From the tower-like space on top of another house you could clearly see all the patched, corrugated iron roofs as well as the spread out city.
Sundowners were enjoyed on this rooftop and so the days in Stonetown went by quite fast.
I am still dreaming of living in one of these houses so I could enjoy these views every day. Imagine what a great party space these rooftops would make....

looking at doors

Apparently, Stonetown is quite famous for its doors as houses traditionally had very precious and beautifully carved wooden doors. Today, some of them have been restored or probably replaced, but many also remain in their original, often somewhat derelict, state. I think I actually preferred the old ones - showing signs of time and history.

Sunset Saturday XXII

We went for a sunset cruise on a dhow and were sailing along the waterfront of Stonetown. The gentle breeze was pushing the boat over the water, and as we came back, the sun was setting on the horizon. These dows look so simple and haven't really changed over the centuries, but are a great way to get around on the ocean.

what really happened in Zanzibar

they flew to a magical island, where love was in the air.

infatuated by all the exotic spices, they decided that marriage isn't such a bad idea.

on mango island, he found the perfect spot and so she found the ring in a shell.

to the sound of the ocean, he asked the question and she didn't have to think long about the answer.

so now they are planning a wedding and are looking puzzled at each other.

seems like the happily ever after has already started :)

back from the island

We're back in Gabs and I already miss the ocean, the beach and the tropical green vegetation of Zanzibar island. It has been such an amazing trip, with everything and much more than I hoped for!