Getting to Our Home in Zanzibar

After returning to Arusha from safaris, we headed to Zanzibar for the second leg of our journey. The plane ride was about 90 minutes and uneventful.

We landed near Stonetown, were met by our prearranged driver, then made our way across the Island to the town of Paje.

There, we purchased some groceries, and medication for my cold.  Purchasing drugs at the Pharmacy was an interesting experience.

The Pharmacy was a very small building, but typical in the commercial section of Tanzanian villages. I stepped about a meter inside and there was a lady sitting behind a glass partition. I showed her my empty Tylenol bottle, but she didn't recognize it. I said I needed something for my cold and runny nose. She didn't understand and handed me a paper and pencil. I printed out my symptoms on the paper, and she checked her selection of drugs for the word "cold". She selected a box that had already been opened, then handed me the enclosed document. I read the pertinent information including dosage recommendation, then gave her a nod with a smile while asking how much. She said "2000 shillings" which is equivalent to US$1 for 1 card, or 12 capsules. I paid the price and left with the card in a white envelope; "Coldvin 2X2" was scrawled on it. So far, I haven't figured out the "2X2" portion.

 We continued onto the village of Jambiani and were dropped off at our seaside apartment. Phillip, a half owner, met us and gave us a brief orientation, then took our full payment in American cash with the promise to check in with us in a couple of days. His final words being, if we needed anything, we could find his business partner, Ali, at the Coral Rock resort, down the beach.

The studio apartment is only meters from the water at high tide, and on the second story. It has a full balcony, some of the basics for self catering, a bed, other locally crafted furniture, and a safe. This was our home in Zanzibar and the wilds of Africa, for the second half of our adventure.

Click here for the next story in this series: http://travellingwithsteveandmarlene.blogspot.ca/2016/11/the-unexpected.html