Mermen

A quick weekend trip to Zanzibar to stay at Robin and Kate’s. I have learnt from past mistakes so I arrived at the ferry port in a timely manner today. What a difference good planning makes to the stress levels.

As soon as the ferry departed Dar es Salaam, a Tanzania Naval Commando speedboat started causing a ruckus, playing around in the ferry’s wake for the whole seventy kilometre journey to Zanzibar. When we were all barred from disembarking in Zanzibar I assumed the Navy was in hot pursuit of a ne’er-do-well on board.

The passengers were subsequently also blocked from pouring out onto the street from the ferry terminal until after a long cavalcade had passed. It transpires that the fanfare was just for some bigwigs on a visit to the island. Any chance for elaborate protocols and over-the-top trumpeting of the powerful and influential must be taken, the world over.

We had a fantastic afternoon at a hotel pool Robin and Kate have discovered near their place. The pool is deep, which is always a winner for frolicking and pretending to be marine nymphs. Even though it’s Muslim-run and many places in Zanzibar are dry, the hotel does serve alcohol to the ungodly. We had the place practically to ourselves as we drank (not Kate, she’s pregnant) caipirinhas lolling half-in/half-out the water like bloated mermen.