Tanzania, October 29-30th

Saying goodbye to Zanzibar was a sad day for me even if I was leaving the 4 inch roaches and 5 inch water bugs that invaded my room every night.

My next adventure is to reach Victoria Falls in Zambia...the journey will take me by boat, train and bus for over 50 hours of travel.

Although I anticipate a safe journey, I am amazed by the sites given from my traveler window view.

From the boat, several fisherman are seen in one location that can only mean a school of fish, their are beautiful islands scattered with palm trees and white beaches, the water is cool as if it flies in the air towards you right before reaching the mainland of Tanzania.

From the train, the landscape changes from dry to green and then back again. The landscape and lions on the edge of the train tracks are only a mere surprising compared to the people seen along the way. As the train turns a corner, the children can be seen running, running for a wave, a piece of candy, to sell some sort of goods but mostly they come with a smile.

When the train slows to let another train pass, I find that we are waiting in the middle of Africa, the real Africa. The children still come with a smile but it is sadder, they still come with something to possibly sell but they are more desperate, they still want a wave a notion of acceptance but now they come with a thread of a t-shirt on and a pair of pants with no backside. They come so dirty that it is impossible to see their skin, they come alone, they come aged.

We wait on the tracks, I am finally presented with the real Africa and it saddens me. I throw bananas from my window but I find relief that they do not rush in starvation. I am consoled from a Tanzanian traveler that educates me from the next window, "there is poverty but their is plenty of food, do not worry".

We still wait and with my previous generosity, a slew of boys gather. They play amongst themselves and steal a view my way only when they are ready. I lean out the window, wave and try to summon the first two boys I saw. The boys with t-shirts made out of a piece of thread and pants with no backside.

After some thought, the train still waits...the train waits enough for these boys to come closer...to come to me as I lean out give them each a t-shirt and a pair of capri pants. As they stick these items, secretly and protectively under their arm and walk away the train starts.

I lean out the window and the boys run, waving and smiling in my direction. I could not help but to blow each a kiss....my heart warmth over!!!

A little later, socks, underwear and my fabulous tennis shoes went flying out the window as the train moved past more children in need. I am glad to have seen the real Africa and may my contribution help someone feel warm inside and out. For this I can only hope.