Dar to Iringa

Yesterday and Today

A little catch-up is in order. We are in Dar. In the morning we will be on our way to Iringa with our familiar driver Peter. I am sitting at The Waterfront restaurant at The Slipway. The others aren’t tired of shopping yet. We have already been to the Fish Market. We had a guide and his self-appointed assistant. I knew there would be money expected. But it was great to have a guide. Perhaps someone else will mention more.

Now as I mentioned we are at Slipway. Coco beach next, then the woodcarvers’ market.

Yesterday 

We went to the National Museum. Overall, it was a disappointment, though perhaps no one else will say so. There are bright spots. It looks to me like they are trying to revamp it. With such a rich anthropology, there is nothing to display it. And with such a rich flora and fauna, also nothing.

However, they do ave a very nice geological section and a history of hominids. The USA is a young country, but Tanzania is younger than me! Even so, I hope they begin to take some pride in their heritage and devote some resources to it. Of course, there are lots of needs ahead of the museum.

I asked the group for their highlights. One was at the museum: pictures of the rock paintings. Another was the human origins exhibit.

Here are some others. We ate at a restaurant and through the glass door we saw an interesting sign. There was a red arrow pointing left. It was accompanied by the word “LEFT.” We weren’t sure if that was the whole message or not.

A couple people, perhaps all of us found the the street vendors intriguing. I was imagining the conversations that did or did not take place before the trip to work. “Sweetheart, would you pick up a mop on the way to work today?” Or “Honey, I notice we need new windshield wipers? Could you get a pair?” Those were just a couple of the more unique things for sale by the men walking between the vehicles, dodging the motorbikes speeding between the cars, trucks and buses waiting to move ahead. The sellers were hawking plates, rugs, plastic ware, nuts, and boxes of facial tissues. There were signs of community too among the vendors. The  street life included men playing cards, groups of people talking, visiting, washing cars, walking somewhere.

Tangawizi is a highlight for a number of us; most of have choo stories.

We have arrived in Iringa! Dinner was excellent. We are tired out. Off to bed.