Day 34 Dolphin Tour

Sunday January 16^th. Forgot this little item: While we were ordering dinner last night, we decided to order drinks. Ed had tea, I had a beer and John and Richard opted for wine. The waiter was a young man who probably had only left his village the week before to wait tables for the tourists. So, our socialite, John, asks for white wine. Then he asks “what kind of grape is it?” The waiter just stared at him. So, John actually repeated the question! He got the same stare. So, John changed tack and asked “Is it Charonnay or Savionblanc?” Whereupon the waiter said “It's dry white wine.” So John realized he was 'pushing against a closed door' and said “That'll be fine.”

Also forgot that on the snorkeling tour Katrina was running on the boat and smashed her head on a beam from the overhead roof and gave herself a concussion. Luckily we had our doctor Richard to help and Vernon was able to get them special transport to a small fishing village and a bumpy car ride back to town. She is doing well today, with just a bump on her head.

John and I were up early for breakfast and then had the morning to relax. I went for a long walk north along the beach. It was another beautiful day and the views were spectacular. After I came back I packed and checked out and then waited in the restaurant for departure.

Sitting in the front seat on the drive back to Stone Town was interesting as you could watch the flow of traffic and the way they overtake and pass each other. Bicycles have little respect on the road and motorbikes even less. The loads that some people carry on the bikes is amazing and it's fun to watch the Muslim women sit sidesaddle on the back of the bikes.

When we arrived in Stone Town seven of us had opted for the swim with the dolphins activity. They loaded us into a minivan that seated six. So, I had to sit on a hump between the two front seats. The half hour ride, turned out to be an hour and a half. We were told that lunch was being prepared for us and would be ready when we got there, however, when we arrived we were told it wasn't ready yet and we should head out to see the dolphins first. So, without eating for eight hours, away we went.

We spent two hours, putting along in a large wooden boat with a 9.9 motor on it looking in vain. We did however, managed to run over a fishing net (which all of us saw) and wrap it around the prop. They spent twenty minutes trying to untangle that. The views of the coast and the colour of the water made the ride endurable.

So, then we headed back for lunch and the promise of another attempt afterwards. Lunch turned out to be barracuda, rice, french fries and a lovely coconut/tomato sauce to put on it. The second time we went out we met with some success. We did see several spire dolphins, but just their backs as the came up for air. Apparently they are shy and it's actually the bottleneck dolphins that will hang around a boat and swim with people. Not our lucky day. So, as this trip turned into a sunset cruise we headed back.

I sat in the boot of the minivan on the way back as there was actually more room on the floor behind the back seat than there was up front. The drivers thought that was funny, but I'm not the one who brought a van that didn't have enough seats!

Anyway, arrived back in Stone Town again, and John and I headed out to the Africa House Hotel for a beer and wi-fi. Happily the code that Filip had purchased three days ago and told us so that we all had free wi-fi, still worked! So, I checked e-mails, and then talked to Peter, Mom, Dad and Carol via Skype. Unable to reach Danny. Always great to hear voices from home. I headed back to the Garden Lodge by midnight.