It’s been another dramatic change of pace and scenery. A few days ago I flew from Nairobi to Zanzibar–a gorgeous island off the coast of Tanzania. What an interesting place. Here are some piccs from around town:

Although Swahili is still the common language, the population is a mix of African, Arab, and Indian. The population is predominantly Muslim so most women you see are wearing burkas–from loose robes and headscarves all the way to garments covering all but the eyes. The men have no such dress code–they all seem to be wearing T-shirts and jeans. Whereas in Nairobi people on the street seemed to look right through you–sort of like in New York–in Stone Town you can’t walk past one of these T-shirt clad guys without them trying to sell you a CD, a scarf, a taxi ride…

The reason I bring up this dress is because of the heat. The temps are in the low 30sC (or, 90sF) but the humidity is about 100%. Add long sleeves to that and it’s pretty unbearable. I was excited when a restaurant owner and I were lamenting the heat and she blamed it on global warming–maybe we’re not so different after all!

One of the hallmarks of Stone Town is the intricate design of the doors around town. Hotels, churches, shops, and homes all have gorgeous entrances. Here are a few of my faves:

After one day of touring the markets and buying some souvenirs I felt like I’d exhausted some of the local diversions so I decided to sign up for a day-long tour of a spice farm. Below are a handful of photos of the incredible plants we saw as well as a couple of shots from the stunning beach.

Nutmeg

Cinnamon Bark

Cocoa--the chocolate seeds are housed in this sweet, fluffy white fruit

Drinking fresh coconut water

A dhow, or local sailboat