Karibu Zanzibar

I think that means Welcome to Zanzibar in Swahili, though I speak about 7 words of Swahili so that could easily be wrong.  I went to Zanzibar for a lovely 4-day weekend this last weekend to see my friend Caroline Merin from Credit Suisse.  Caroline was on a 2-week trip in Tanzania with her brother David - they climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro (sounded really painful), went on a safari, and then met me in Zanzibar.  We spent a day in the main city, Stone Town, and then headed to the beautiful quiet beach of Pongwe, and then up to the "fun" beach, Kendwa.  On our last day in Zanzibar, tragedy struck the island when a massively overfull ferry capsized between the two islands of Zanzibar and at least 200 people drowned (article).  We saw a scene of chaos on the beach as rescue boats were coming in - hundreds of people were trying to find out who was coming off the boats and what had happened to their friends and neighbors.  There was a definite melancholy feel on the island and it was hard to see people struggling with such a senseless tragedy.  Despite that sadness, it was a really nice mini-vacation and it was great to see Caroline and to see such an incredibly beautiful place.  Now for the pictures -
From our first night in Stone Town -- the incredible seafood at the night market in Forodhani Gardens and me and Caroline at a beach restaurant

More in Stone Town - the view from the roof of our hotel

 Women walking in the labyrinth of old Stone Town

 The main market

 A beautiful memorial at the old slave market - now an Anglican church

 Me and Caroline on the beach in stone town

 In front of The Dispensary, a cool building from the British colonial era

And from the beach....
A warm welcome for the Spanish version of myself on our adorable little beach bungalow in Pongwe

 Me, David, and Caroline on the beach in Kendwa

 Me and Caroline in Nungwi, next to Kendwa.  Beautiful water, amazing cliffs, and loads and loads of Italian tourists.... I felt a bit like I was in Sicily again

Scene of chaos on the beach in Nungwi as rescue boats came in with people from the capsized ship.  People were trying to get news and see who was coming out on stretchers and who was okay. 

 Sailboat in Kendwa