Dar Es Salam

So I've arrived in Africa and wow! There is something amazing about walking through the door of the airport and a whole new wold opens up. I squeeze onto a bus into Dar full of people with the music blaring African dance music and looking like an English tourist. Full of smiles and four buses later I'm walking down the road to meet my hosts. I had decided to couch surf.. Free accommodation but with no idea what I was letting myself in for. I am met by two young African girls.. Who walk me through the streets of a shanti town.... And show me their  house! It's small, next to what I can only describe as a river doubling up as a rubbish tip. The kitchen is outside and the cooker is a round clay pot with charcoal. The shower is a bucket of water with a jug! There are seven people living in 4 rooms and I'm sharing with the son, a 20 yr old who is watching Ratatouille !( The film .. Not the evening dinner). But you soon realise that you are with wonderful warm and very kind people who share what they have and laugh and smile and joke. I'm immediately blown away by the warmth and happiness that resonates from people who have so little.    I'm immediately served am amazing meal. Stew, dumplings and spinach. No plates or cutlery. A jug of water is placed on the table with A bowl Which  they pass around and you wash your hands. You then break off some dumpling and dip it into the stew. It's wonderful!

Cairo

Cairo

A bit of haggling with the Taxi companies at 5.30 in the morning secured a taxi for the day for 350 Egyptian pounds (about 30 English)  down from 2000, I did get 4 free coffees! Amazing day and wonderful people. They are desperate to get the tourists back since the trouble, and whilst you do have to be careful as they are always pushing the price.. Once agreed it's all cool. 12 hrs taxi and a guide for the day.. Visited the pyramids.. Cairo museum and the old city!

Realised you can only edit the first 4 pictures .. Modern technology eh!! So I'm going to leave you with a series' of photos which you can view and will post in smaller amounts!! It's a learning curve!! 

Taxi driver joining me for breakfast!

Debating world politics In the streets of Cairo!  

# Not much fun losing your luggage on the first day! Good flight with Egyptian airways. Arrived in Cairo and paid 20 dollars for a visa .. Through in about 10 minutes! Waiting for my luggage and looking very sad.. Everyone picking up their bags and leaving till there was just me! Eventually found lost luggage only to be tol that I was on a transfer!!! My bags had gone on to Da as Salam!!  DER!!!  

Caramulo

 Relaxing at the Caramulo car rally/festival......Think I've found my new car!!

How do you prepare for every eventuality in Africa!  Sitting in the bar in Lagares, Paul and Shelley's friend Rick asked if  I fancied joining him for lunch today.  'Where are you thinking of going?' I asked. ' A little restaurant in Chaves' he suggests - 'it's very nice!', 'I know that place' I say.  - 'It's about 150 miles due North of here.  How does that work!!'.  Rick has recently flown his Europa plane over from the U.K. and has invited me out for the day.  Travelling just under 1/3 of   Portugal in an hour, we set off in a light aircraft, to find this wonderful restaurant in North Portugal.  Allowing me to fly the plane on the way back, you never know when you might need some flying skill in Zimbabwe or Tanzania!!!

Yes the plane looks like Gromit - Love this plane!

The Douro river

Will he get that this is not the runway!

Flight lieutenant Rick planning the home journey!

 

Some of you might think that I have left for Africa already... but actually I'm in Lisbon Zoo, Portugal.  I spent a few hours walking around and reflecting on the fact that in 3 weeks time I might actually be seeing some of these animals in their natural surroundings! (I don't think McDonald's or the cafe will be around the corner).   I'm taking a few days to unwind, prepare, and think things through before I get onto a plane to Tanzania, and take the 8 Hr bus journey inland and start the adventure I've been working on and talking about for I don't know how long! (apologies for those who have had to endure my hours of rattling on about it and thank you for your patience). 

So this is the start of the Blog.  There won't be much appearing for a couple of weeks, but keep dropping in and keep in touch!