2018 Trip to Zanzibar - The Doors of Stone Town

- Stone Town Welcome - The Doors of Stone Town - Retreat in Matemwe - Loving the Indian Ocean -

The strangely a propos forboding countenance..., an ever-present reminder, anywhere there are coastal remants of colonial-era architecture, of this ideological stealth bomber of its day. Are we in Rio de Janeiro, West Africa or in Lima?

Much of Stone Town is built at very human scale and not accessible to automobiles, though motorcyclists don't hesitate to ply the narrow outdoor corridors.

Not a moment too soon, The old Stone Town has been designated a World Heritage Site. So that resources and protections are now in place to safeguard what remains, from corporate developers who would make it super-developed, exclusive playground for the rich, and from further neglect.

The market... as feasts of color, social intrigue, and potent spices, African markets cannot be beat! And as the food and cultures of Africa, India, Oman and other Arab peoples to the North all mash-up in this part of the world, it's really amazing to experience.

The carved wooden doors of Stone Town where among the things that put Zanzibar high on my bucket list. A status symbol for their owners, the carvings have manifold meanings, and reflect Arab, Islamic, Indian and African themes..

- Stone Town Welcome - The Doors of Stone Town - Retreat in Matemwe - Loving the Indian Ocean -