Day 2 – Friday 29th January 2010

We wake to a view of Kilimanjaro out of the window. We are 55 minutes from landing!

This all still seems surreal, but as we step off the plane we are hit by a distinct smell. We can’t decide what to call it. Armorel says dusty, I just say hot. So after hitting the “dusty heat” we head for immigration. Standing in line we are greeted by a jovial man who speaks no English. He thrusts me a piece of paper, which has a photograph of me on it.

It’s my work permit. Now that is cutting things fine!

This has some benefits, as we have now skipped the queue and are having our papers processed. We are now residents of Tanzania.

All 7 bags arrive, and we head to the exit. Karibu Dar es Salaam!

We are met by Debby who has kindly offered to put us up for two nights. Debby and Simon and their daughter Miriam have been living in Dar for 2 years, Simon working for DfID (Department for International Development). We have been very blessed.

So first impressions of Tanzania....dusty heat and traffic. It has taken us 2 hours to travel just over 2 miles. What a great time to see life as it is in Dar and to get to the bottom of some of the most important questions on our mind. Why are the different coloured number plates? Well, those of a geeky disposition read on, otherwise feel free to skip to the next paragraph. The standard number plate is yellow, starts with a T and is followed by a selection of letters and numbers. However if it starts TD then that is a government car. Then you have white for the taxis, buses and hired vehicles, Blue is UN, Green is diplomatic and Red is NGO’s.

We have been blessed. Simon and Debby have a wonderful house on the Dar peninsula, among the embassy residents. We have air con and a pool. Luxury that I feel will not follow us for long.

We have had a swim and sleep and have just braved a walk to the local shops. No tarmac and really orange dust, we are in Africa for sure.

Dinner was an experience, and one I recommend. We headed out to Addis in Dar, and those who are geographically savvy will have worked out it was an Ethiopian restaurant. In front of you was a round wicker table to which they added a mass of foods, on this dough-like table cloth, and yes you ate the table cloth. We ate like kings and followed it off with some majestic Ethiopian coffee and popcorn. We are in Africa!