Tanzania Trip -- Sunday, July 15, 2012
 Variable Sunbird (Cinnyris venustus) |
Day 09. Sunday, July 15. Arusha, TZ. Day 2 in Tanzania. Today was a day to relax around Arusha, catch up on sleep, go for a walk, and bird the grounds of the hotel. Cathy and Lydia hope to visit political opposition party members this afternoon, and we expect the Professor, with a car and driver, to arrive this evening. Link to trip map. |
 Produce section of the Arusha Market |
Despite the lack of sleep, I got up at dawn when the birds started calling outside my window. The morning was cool and cloudy with a bit of fog, so not the best birding conditions (without sunshine, the iridescent sunbirds look all black). Breakfast was fruit, fried eggs, toast, and coffee. They have pet tortoises at the hotel. Visiting with the political opposition never worked out, but we three took a nice long walk to the other side of Arusha. The shops were closed for Sunday, but the street vendors took over the sidewalks in their place. Tano, the driver, showed up alone in the late afternoon. Tano means "five" in the Swahili language, so Tano first introduces himself as "Five" (in English), which lead to several minutes of confusion at first. I think maybe he was the 5th born child in his family. |
 Le Jacaranda Hotel sign |
 Old section of Le Jacaranda Hotel (our building) |
 2nd-floor porch outside our rooms; good birding position |
 2nd-floor porch outside our rooms; good birding position |
 My room - the bed takes 80% of the floor space |
 My open window with screens |
 Cathy and wall art at Le Jacaranda |
 Wall art at Le Jacaranda |
 Main Le Jacaranda building (reception down, bar and food up) |
 Open-air reception area at Le Jacaranda Hotel |
 Dining tables in the mini-golf, garden area at Le Jacaranda Hotel |
 Covered walkway at Le Jacaranda Hotel |
 Restroom for the bar and restaurant at Le Jacaranda Hotel |
 New building under construction at Le Jacaranda Hotel |
 Entrance road and mini golf course at Le Jacaranda Hotel |
 Wall art at Le Jacaranda Hotel |
 Wall art (we are in the impala rooms) at Le Jacaranda Hotel |
 Wall art at Le Jacaranda Hotel |
 Wall art at Le Jacaranda Hotel |
 Wall art at Le Jacaranda Hotel |
 Cathy and Lydia on main road heading towards downtown |
 Stop for a samosa snack (and to dodge street peddlers) |
 New-style grocery store |
 New-style grocery store |
 New-style grocery store |
 New-style grocery store |
 Lydia checking out at new-style grocery store |
 New and old together (street market and new daily flights sign) |
 Street scene along main road |
 Street scene along main road |
 Street scene along main road |
 Old-style grocery store |
 Old-style grocery store |
Old-style grocery store |
 Street scene |
 Wall art along road |
 Functional wall art |
 Cathy and Lydia by Arusha Clock Tower |
 Street scene; Mt. Meru in the distance |
 Street scene heading back to the Le Jacaranda Hotel |
 More wall art at Le Jacaranda Hotel |
 One of the pet Leopard Tortoises at Le Jacaranda Hotel |
 I used my new Dorcy flashlight to spotlight and photograph nocturnal House Geckos high on the walls at the hotel |
 I used my Dorcy flashlight to spotlight this House Gecko who was hiding way back in a crack at the top of a wall |
Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
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