Dar es Salaam was a great one night trip out of Bagamoyo. Interestingly enough, the feel of the city reminded me of Rome – in that it was rustic and lacking the typical touristy feel. The city wasn’t as diverse as I expected – for the most part we saw only black Africans. On the way into the city the extreme urban poverty is visible – slums dot the skyline of the city and despite some urban development, there are desperate waves of people. Some approach you offering to exchange currency; others try to sell a variety of products.
Sightseeing was a short endeavor! We went to see the Botanical Gardens but the National Museum was closed. We saw a few statues and churches around the city but as I said, it lacks a touristy feel and contrary to Rome it subsequently lacks touristy activities. Saturday night we went to a restaurant called Addis in Dar that came highly recommended from a few friends. It was traditional Ethiopian cuisine which means we had to eat everything with our hands! It was delicious! We had lentils, lamb, beef, chicken, and egg. Everything was savory and to eat you use this spongy flat bread to sop up the dishes. Yum!
Sunday was Walk the World. It was a fantastic event albeight different from traditional walks I’ve done in the United States. It was somewhat less organized yet everyone seemed to know what to do and where to go. There were several thousand people at least – including a lot of young kids and many school kids. The keynote guest who did the walk was Salma Kikwete, the wife of the President of Tanzania. She was very friendly and we didn’t know she would be there so that was a great surprise!
The energy during the walk was unparalleled to any walk I’ve done in the United States. People were jogging, singing, and chanting on the streets. What is fascinating to me is the salience this issue must have for people in Tanzania – many who probably have experienced hunger, malnutrition, or starvation. It was incredible to walk the streets with so many people united for a cause I care so deeply about. It was truly a wonderful and unique experience, and a much-needed getaway from Bagamoyo.
Fight World Hunger!!!
Sightseeing was a short endeavor! We went to see the Botanical Gardens but the National Museum was closed. We saw a few statues and churches around the city but as I said, it lacks a touristy feel and contrary to Rome it subsequently lacks touristy activities. Saturday night we went to a restaurant called Addis in Dar that came highly recommended from a few friends. It was traditional Ethiopian cuisine which means we had to eat everything with our hands! It was delicious! We had lentils, lamb, beef, chicken, and egg. Everything was savory and to eat you use this spongy flat bread to sop up the dishes. Yum!
Sunday was Walk the World. It was a fantastic event albeight different from traditional walks I’ve done in the United States. It was somewhat less organized yet everyone seemed to know what to do and where to go. There were several thousand people at least – including a lot of young kids and many school kids. The keynote guest who did the walk was Salma Kikwete, the wife of the President of Tanzania. She was very friendly and we didn’t know she would be there so that was a great surprise!
The energy during the walk was unparalleled to any walk I’ve done in the United States. People were jogging, singing, and chanting on the streets. What is fascinating to me is the salience this issue must have for people in Tanzania – many who probably have experienced hunger, malnutrition, or starvation. It was incredible to walk the streets with so many people united for a cause I care so deeply about. It was truly a wonderful and unique experience, and a much-needed getaway from Bagamoyo.
Fight World Hunger!!!
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