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Tanzania Trip -- Saturday, July 28, 2012

July 28
Periphery of Kariakoo Market

Day 22. Saturday, July 28. Dar es Salaam, TZ.

Day 15 in Tanzania.

Cathy and I had a long and sometimes hectic hike around the city today. We spent the morning in the market, a crowded and seemingly insane place, but we survived without being pick-pocketed (so far as we know). After making strategic purchases, we took a cab out of the area (how can a car move in that mass of humanity???) to the National Museum. That was a bit of a bust, but 1,000 screaming school kids added to the atmosphere, and I would go back next time. We walked out, made more strategic purchases, and returned to the hotel to recover. Tonight we'll get dinner, pack, and get ready to start home tomorrow.

Link to trip map.

July 28
Street scene in front of our hotel

As we were walking out for dinner at a nearby Indian Restaurant (The Alcove), the Tanzanian Yanga Football Club (soccer to us Yanks) was just finishing a winning game in a big tournament among East African nations (played here in Dar). The Yanga club won the 2012 Cecafa/Kagame Cup title for the second year running after beating rival Azam club in the finals played in Dar es Salaam.

As we walked through the hotel lobby, everyone inside was glued to the TV -- even the doorman ignored us as we walked out -- as the local boys were celebrating on the field. Outside there was shouting in the streets, high-5s, horns, and every sort of celebratory sound imaginable (except no gunshots or fireworks). We were a bit concerned about mixing with the energized crowd.

July 28
National Museum, main building entrance
Comforted by the presence of two policemen guarding the bank at the end of the street (with machine guns!), we fell in behind a crowd of youths heading up the street. They were having a grand time celebrating and soon we were caught up in the spirit of the celebration giving lots of thumbs-up and waving at cars passing with horns blaring. The kids turned right at the machine guns when we turned left, and soon we found ourselves in front of The Alcove restaurant 45-minutes before they opened.
v
Albasha Lebanese Restaurant below our room;
we ate hotel breakfasts here

The hostess invited to sit inside and wait, but we decided instead to stand on the street and watch the world go by. With a guard (unarmed?) sitting next door, she thought it would be "no problem" for us to stand outside and wait. Soon cars and buses full of hometown Yanga fans were passing on their way home from the stadium, and as each group of vehicles passed by (pulsed by stoplights), the street merchants and the vehicle occupants would shout celebrations back and forth. Everyone was excited and having a grand time.

Eventually the clock rolled up to the hour and we went inside for dinner. Afterwards, we walked back on nearly deserted streets, again comforted by the machine guns on the corner. We stopped at the tree near the hotel (in view of the police) and got more photos of the fruit bats (flying foxes). I tried to get a video of the bats, but it was too dark. Fortunately, I had my new super-duper Dorcy high-tech LED flashlight, and I was able to spotlight the bats and get some cool video. Take a look at the cool video.

July 28
Street scene
(India Street near Aggrey Street)
July 28
Street scene: clock tower in round-about;
Samora Machel Ave at Uhuru Street
July 28
Oldest building we saw along waterfront
Samora Machel Ave at Uhuru Street
July 28
Periphery of central market area;
Kariakoo Market
July 28
New Chinese-made treadle sewing machine at Kariakoo Market
July 28
Chinese-made treadle sewing machine
July 28
National Museum, main building
July 28
National Museum, main building entrance
July 28
Mouse and bird traps on display in National Museum
July 28
US Embassy bombing exhibit at National Museum
July 28
US Embassy bombing exhibit at National Museum
July 28
US Embassy bombing exhibit at National Museum
July 28
School kids inside the Natural History room at National Museum
July 28
Live Talapia inside the Natural History room at National Museum
July 28
Ecology exhibit inside the Natural History room at National Museum
July 28
Living natural history (House Crow) outside the National Museum
July 28
Some downtown buildings along Samora Machel Ave are rather old
July 28
Very tasty dinner at The Alcove Indian Restaurant
July 28
Straw-colored Fruit Bat (Eidolon helvum) with 30-inch wingspan
July 28
Straw-colored Fruit Bat (Eidolon helvum) with 30-inch wingspan

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240224

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