Jambo! (Now the fun begins… Arusha)

Our first full day in Arusha and the blog gets a bit longer.  We were joined by Mike, Tammy, and Abby.  Using a guide that Mike and Tammy had found, we headed out on foot to Arusha.  Peter, our guide, ended up being critical not just for navigation, but for keeping the many vendors that cater to tourists at bay (mostly).

Road from our lodge to Arusha

Our hotel (lboru Safari Lodge) is located at the end of a dusty road lined by various shops and homes.  Building style is mostly concrete bricks with a mix of mud and cow dung covering. 

Sidewall of one of the homes

Being in developing countries, especially those where the local population is as friendly and seemly happy as they are here, makes you consider your own home.  It makes you incredibly grateful, as well as question all the noise and energy spent on things that, in the end, just don’t matter.

As we walked, children would stop, wave and call, “Jambo!”  They were absolutely adorable.  Dina has already asked if there is any way to bring one home with us.  What we did not know at the beginning of the walk was that later there would be Tanzanians who wanted to adopt Dina right back.

Peter tried to give us some language tips.  We had no idea how much we would need them later.

 

Peter, our guide, and avocados (huge avocados) for sale

We walked the main road joining the crowd. We stopped by a few street vendors including Maasai sandals, which were repurposed tires.  Later in the day we actually saw Maasai in the sandals (Adrienne was initially doubting Peter’s claim).  

 We then headed into central Arusha to the clock tower Peter claimed was the “center of Africa”.  If you thought it would be a little further to the west, you’re not alone, but it was the North-South center.  Peter proudly named it as the midway point between Cairo and Cape Town.

This is where the excitement began and it was all Abby and Mike’s fault.  They pulled out their money and began negotiating with the vendors that feed on tourists.  While Mike and Abby did obtain three paintings that are quite beautiful, their purchase meant we had an entourage for the rest of the trip.  This group even waited outside the restaurant where we ate lunch and outside the Tanzanite museum.  Dina was unwilling to be rude and became separated from Peter. She became their target. 

Grains

Our final stop in Arusha was definitely the highlight, the market.  You could find everything there from grains, to veggies, to fish, to live chickens.  Here is where it got nuts.  Our entourage decided that they wanted a slice of the guide fee and began pointing and directing.  This was particularly true once Dina got her camera out.  They would lead her around pointing at what she should photograph.  Eventually, the walkways got very narrow, meaning there was no room for us, our guide, and all the guide want-to-bes. 

Dina, some of her self-appointed "friends," and chickens!

Fish, yes fish

Having escaped the market, we began our walk home and Dina’s “fans” let their true intentions be known, they wanted money.  She innocently told them, “I thought you wanted to be my friend.”  At which point, the four of us cracked up.

Veggies

The items in the market, especially the grain aisle and fish area were very cool from the crowd to visually stunning displays – huge stacks of dried sardines; dried, waxy looking catfish; every grain imaginable in wicker baskets; and much, much more.

   

Walking back to the lodge

Kiswahili words of the day

Asante – thank you

Hapana, Asante – no thank you [this was critically important]

Hakuna matata – ok, no problem

Karibu – welcome [When asked if she knew this word, Adrienne said "yes" thinking they were referring to a large animal with antlers found in Canada - ha!]