January 29, 2015

January 29, 2015 We need to begin with something from yesterday as it's worthy of note. Not many people check in to their hotel and request a downgrade but we did! When we arrived and discovered we'd been upgraded to rooms with a view (one on the 2nd floor and one on the 3rd) we panicked and immediately informed the hotel manager that we needed to have rooms on the ground level. The alternative was that she would have to deal with our crying and whining every time we ascended the stairs. The Kholle House in Stonetown did us in! All four of us are no longer limping and gimping around as we are appreciating our ground floor rooms each time we go there. In fact, being just steps from the poolside is absolutely perfect! Today began with our buffet breakfast on outdoor patio. Gail and Darlene tried to start with coffee in their room but....alas....they don't know how to make African coffee. LOL....coffee here is usually instant so tomorrow morning Darlene has voted and Gail will be climbing the stairs to the Z Cafe where she can get two Americano's to take back to their room. Suddenly Gail has decided that she now likes the coffee Darlene made in the room this morning....go figure??!! Poolside was the order of the day and mid morning Darlene and Gail enjoyed a Turkish Delight. I on the other hand was invited for a cappuccino. Lynda was off communing with nature while this was all going on so she missed out on both Turkish Delight and cappuccino treats. There is a story here but it's not fit for blogging so if you want the rest of it....you'll have to ask. However....what happens in Africa stays in Africa. LOL! Got a little shopping done during the hottest part of the day which means that we were in those little shops where there is absolutely NO air at the worst possible time! It is all Gail's fault - again! Seriously, I'm pretty sure each of us lost 10 pounds of sweat while we were shopping! I ended my shopping experience waiting for a tailor to see if I could get a shirt made. While waiting I spent some time chatting with a fellow who was keeping me company. It was so interesting to see all six men who were in the shop watching the House of Assembly on TV. They were all completely engaged with the proceedings and all were super informed about the government processes and current events. It made me embarrassed to think about how little attention we pay to current events and government goings on in Canada. Here corruption is rampant and so the people are vigilant about being aware. At home we're pretty protected from corruption so the result is that we are very lax in our commitment to being informed. Hopefully that doesn't open the door for us to be at risk for corruption down the road! The man I was visiting with had lots of questions about Canada and he was really interested to know the percentage of the population that is Muslim or Christian or ???? He was also really interested to know about our lack of corruption in government offices. Interesting what we take for granted! Dinner tonight at a table out on the sand. Gorgeous until Gail and Darlene couldn't get their chairs quite right. When the dinner was done and it was time to go Gail couldn't get up so asked (politely of course!) if the rest of us could please just lift the table so it was easy for her. Tomorrow we are going in to the village to find a crown for Princess Gail! It was much like this afternoon when Gail couldn't get her deck chair right! She was up and down and up and down, Darlene had to hold her rolled towel so it was just right as a pillow and in the end it still wasn't right. To top it all off...when it was time to go.....Gail just left and Darlene said, "Don't worry Gail...I'll bring your sunglasses, your book, your water, your camera, and your shoes. You just go on ahead." Laughter is the order of the day here at Z Hotel in Nungwi. We are all so relaxed and our safari seems like ages ago not just days! Blog posts used to be filled with information about some of what we'd seen and learned that day and now all we've got to fill them with is silliness and laughter. No complaints though....we were ready for the the R & R. So you will have to put up with our "shallow" posts for the rest of our 5 days here. Till next time... Darlorlynga