Back To Stonetown

The last day of the tour. Several of the party animals got back to their rooms about an hour before we left, so they weren't much use for anything.

A quick breakfast outside the bungalows and we were back on the minibus for the last time. It was a 2 hour trip back to Stonetown, past the Surprise Hair and Beauty Salon (at least they are honest), to the ferry terminal where we said goodbye to Amos and the others who were getting back on Simba for the long drive back to Nairobi. The final 10 of us went a further kilometre down the road back to the old city centre, where we had the last farewells, although we kept running into the Malaysian family all day around the city.

We shouldered our packs and trudged up the hill to our motel about 9:30, expecting to be told that we were too early for our room, but the manager of the Pearl of Zanzibar couldn't have been more helpful or welcoming. We were shown to our room, given maps and information, got a complementary drink, and pointed to the ATM and chemist. We have free wireless internet, and were told that we could borrow his laptop if there were any issues.

Finally! A flat bed, a shower that works, fluffy towels and, miracle of miracles, an air-conditioner. We went for a bit of a wander around lunch time, but I have to admit that a comfortable bed in a cool room won out over fending off endless touts in the markets, and we snoozed away most of the afternoon.

Watched the sunset from the prime vantage point of the Africa House Hotel balcony, along with hundreds of others, and then wandered down to the foreshore food market again, for another dinner of pancakes (or Zanzibar pizzas as they call them).