Africa time…
After the trek, we decided to take a bus down to Dar Es Salaam and then a ferry over to Zanzibar for some fun in the sun, snorkling, R&R, etc. We arrived back from the trek around 10:30AM. Paul, the hike organizer, set up a room for us to quickly shower and clean up before we left, for free (love that guy!). We were happy to accept. After getting ourselves organized, we rushed off to the bus station to make our 12 noon bus. When we hurriedly arrived, 11:58AM, we learned that the bus (arriving from Nairobi, Kenya) would actually be there at 12:15…. or 12:30… maybe 12:45. ‘OK’…. After waiting until 1:30 we became a bit concerned. We asked and were told that the bus was in a nearby town and on its way… maybe 30 minutes more. ‘uh… OK’. 2PM, the afternoon rains begin. Terrential rain comes crashing down and, immediately, a river is flowing through the gutter in front of the bus station. It is coming down so hard that a small section (maybe 1 foot square) of the roof falls down. Yikes, right? Everyone grabs their stuff and moves inside to get away from it all. 2:30PM, the rain is still falling and Mauricio, Paula and I are getting a little stir-crazy. At 3PM, 1.5 hours after we were told only 30 minutes more to wait, we ask again and learn that ‘there was an accident’…. but….. ‘bus is coming’. ‘hmm… OK’. So as we watch the rain come down, Mauricio mentions that he used to be able to make a paper boat…. not 5 minutes later, the three of us have whipped out our paper and are diligently designing our ships for a very competitive regata. We took our paper boats outside around 3:30 (the rain beginning to let up) and I set off my boat down the gutter as Paula timed it. Instantly the Tanzanian people are watching and laughing as we cheer on our boats. I won. As much as I would like to brag about my paper boat design skills, I have to admit (due to all the witnesses, of course) that I may have had some help in that the rain ended after my turn. Oh well, a win nonetheless. So, about 30 minutes later, or so, around 4:30, our 12 noon bus departs for Dar Es Salaam. Hakuna Matata….
Tags: bus travel, moshi, Tanzania, zanzibar
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