Visit to Dar es Salaam

Two weeks ago I travelled to Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania to  obtain a certificate of  exemption which would allow me to work in Tanzania for the coming year.  I flew to Dar' on the way out and travelled back by coach to enable me to see a little more of the countryside. The flight out was spectacular because I managed to take a photograph of Kilimanjaro majestically rising above the clouds and the cloud formations were also special. 

I had to pick up my permit from the Ministry of Immigration but involved journeys to Ministry of Education and Internal affairs before I finally received the permit.  It was touch and go if we would receive it before out departure.  But the Immigration official took pity on us when we said we were traveling back to Maragangu Mtoni the next day and we got it at the end of the day.

I didn't see much of Dar' it was a typical large city and the major port for imports into Africa.  But visited some nice restaurants and had cocktails at the KIlimanjaro hotel overlooking the harbour.  But my interesting two days were not over!!  The bus ride back to Marangu Toni should have taken 8 hours but it took twelve hours because there was a crash on a one way bridge and we were held up in a  2 hour stand off with no traffic moving and nobody willing to give way.  There was a police station on the bridge but they stayed inside until it was sorted by a member of the public.  The bus driver then drove continually for 6 hours trying to make up time with only a 20 minute stop.  I was on the front seat and had my eyes glued to him looking for any signs of tiredness.  I noted that he drank a can of Red Bull.  I was delighted to get off the bus and return to the slowly slowly of my village.  A trip to remember