Trains, Planes And....: Kilimanjaro and Dar

So we have moved on from Arusha on our way to Zanzibar. On the long journey we decided to stop at the Kilimanjaro base camp on the way as there is no sense in comming to Tanzania and missing the Mountain. Trying to do it on the cheap we piled into a Toyota minivan with 29 other people and took the 1.5 hour drive from Moshi to Murango, cramped, sweaty and dangerous but oh so fun. We arrived to a barrage of hustlers trying to sell climbing safari's and once we got sorted to started the hike up the mountain.

We got to walk through some simple mountain side villages and farms, and got to check out some sweet waterfalls. The highlight was sampling some of the local banana wine and banana beer which was just terrible but extremely potent. After a few hour climb we realized that we were both too out of shape to make it to the top and we were happy we didn't try. We returned to Moshi via the dala dala filled with people, where a african women put a black magic spell on Jess after she refused to buy her wears, to try the much hyped ChrisBurger much to Jess's excitement, we ordered and waited. Just as the food was put down infront of us, the black magic kicked in and Jess threw up all over the restaurant and we had to leave with our heads hung in shame and no burgers in our bellies. This was definitly a low point.

We pushed on to Dar and after some water, fruit and ice cream our stomach's were good to go. Arriving in Dar at night was pretty chaotic and unceartin and our cab broke down half way to our hostel but our room had AC and there was a lively bar downstair filled with expat's and their respective African prostitues. It was very awkward but apperently genreally accepted so we had fun laughing at the awkwards goodbye's between client and buyer over breakfast.

Dar is a very nice city, quite developed and very modern with beautiful beaches and busy markets and a great live music scene. Being here only for 2 nights we just scratched the surface but I would definitly return.

And now off to Zanzibar...