is a big city in a third world country. The juxtaposition of old and new is striking. The roads were built when the population of the city numbered in the hundreds of thousands. Now the city is bulging toward seven million and there are cars everywhere. Two-hour traffic jams are common. Traffic lights are often out so intersections become free for alls. And there are people everywhere.
Rolling power outages are common. As are trash and street vendors and packed buses and dirt streets with nasty ruts. There is a cow that moos outside our window every night and you could set your clock by the Muslim chanting heard several times each day. There are mansions and embassies and modest homes that are all located in gated/guarded compounds. It appears most everyone else lives in US-standard-squalor. Did I say there were people everywhere? You can’t drink the water. Next time you take a shower notice how much water gets in/around your mouth. Don’t forget your malaria pills every day.
We are staying with Greg’s brother, David, his wife, Dorothy, and their daughter Cheryl. He is Logistics Coordinator with the International Mission Board and is responsible for Baptist Mission Tanzania compound which has two houses and some “guest rooms”—cement built apartments. That is where we have landed. Living room, kitchen, two bedrooms and a bath (with tub!) They have been gracious in inviting us into their home for meals so we are in and out of here for rest, reading, cleaning and sleeping. Thank goodness the bedroom has an air conditioner. Temps have been hovering around 90 with 90+% humidity.
We took a day trip up the coast Saturday to Bagamoyo, a former slaving destination for East Africa. Stone Town dates at least to the 19th century. We walked the streets, wandered in a local artists-in-residence open market, took in a small history museum, frolicked on the sandy shores of the Indian Ocean, ate and swam in Paradise—a resort with a pool you can pay to use.
New pictures here.
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