HOLY FIREWORKS!

Our first night in Dar proved to be an eventful one!!!.... to say the least :) We started off with a hectic trip to our hotel from the airport. With all of our luggage, we had to take 2 taxis. Marilyn hopped in one and
Amber and I took the other. 2 minutes out of the airport gates, our driver, Wallence, informed us that he "had to go back" and something about his cell phone being left with some lady. We assured him it was alright, after a slight freak out by the both of us (cultural misunderstanding #1). Traffic was HORRIBLE! What should have taken 20 minutes took almost an hour. The Peacock immediately felt like home away from home. We unloaded our suitcases, got laudry ready for them to clean, and ordered room service.

We were exhausted from travels so after dinner, we hit the sack!.... 12 am, and we were all awoken by loud gun shots? suit cases down the stair case? fireworks? We weren't really sure what was going on!
Amber looked outside and could see fireworks. We weren't really sure what they were for, and they seemed to go on FOREVER! Marilyn finally took it upon herself to call down to the front desk.... this would be how the converstaion went:

Front desk: Hallow
Marilyn: Umm, yes, what are those fireworks outside
Front desk: Fire where????
Marilyn: No, no, no, what is the noise outside. The fire WORKS?
Front desk: Ohhhh, it is Tanzanian Independence Day
Marilyn: (hardly able speak from laughing so hard) Oh ok thanks. Good night!

*CULTRUAL MISUNDERSTANDING #2!!!! Who knew Tanzanian Independence Day was just 3 days after ours!!! The three of us laughed for what seemed like ever. It was quite hilarious in the middle of night! Now we knew, and were able to catch some zzz's after checking out the thousands of locals gathered in the park across the street for the celebration. Apparently even the president of Tanzania was present!

After our adventurous night, we decided to visit some of our favorite places in Dar. First on the agenda was Tinga Tinga Art Gallery. Lots of souveniers were boughts and we headed to Wonder Welders to discover that it was closed for the holidays. Bummed, we set off for the Slip Way, our favorite pizza place and shopping along the Indian Ocean. The ATM's were first on our list at the Slip Way due to the major damage that was had at Tinga Tinga. Our afternoon of shopping was tiresome so we ventured back to the Peacock for another round of room service after a stop at the downstairs bar to catch the end of the Castle Cup, semi-final game. Simba, one of the two Tanzanian teams was up against Sudan. The locals that it was soooo funny that wazungus were cheering on the Simba team. We learned that there would be 3 more games held in Dar as part of the Castle Cup. Since Marilyn will be leaving us for a few days to visit Kenya, Amber and I decided that we wanted to attend the final game on Sunday. Simba is for sure in the final, and this afternoon we plan to tune into the other semi-final game to see if the other Tanzanian team will be against Simba on Sunday! We are very excited to be amoungst the chaotic crowds at the National Stadium in Dar. We also have plans to pick up some Simba "gear" before we go to the game.... just to help us not stick out TOO much :) I am sure that fans will still be in awe that there are wazungus cheering on the Simba team.

That all for now. We are heading to lunch and then saying bon voyage to Marilyn as she makes her way by plane to Kenya until Monday.

Kwaheri!