Zanzibar Options/Ideas: NY Times Profile

On Zanzibar, from the New York Times in their upcoming weekend Sunday morning travel section, they will have this headline: "36 Hours in Zanzibar, Tanzania".

Here are a few of the in-depth story highlights that will arrive on Sunday morning, plus that are now posted on-line: "The name Zanzibar conjures up visions of sultans’ palaces, paradisiacal beaches and winding alleyways leading to spice-filled bazaars. Indeed, this coral archipelago in the Indian Ocean, 23 miles off the eastern coast of Tanzania, still has many of the features that it did when it was an important trading center and its historic Stone Town served as the capital of an Omani sultanate. Zanzibar’s largest island, Unguja, is home to most of the cultural attractions, many of them found in beguiling Stone Town, which was awarded Unesco World Heritage status in 2000. In recent years, there’s been a concerted effort to restore and give new life to the city’s distinctive structures. Palaces have been turned into museums and cultural centers, and grand Swahili mansions have been reborn as restaurants and boutique hotels. Yet the coast still offers the 'delicious view' that the explorer Sir Richard Burton recorded, of a 'cocoa-fringed shore of purest white, and the sea blue as a slab of lapis lazuli.' "

Lots of details, options and potentials are outlined in this profile. Here is one of the highlights to consider: "Wandering down the narrow lanes of Stone Town in the late afternoon, past coral rag houses and dimly lit curio shops, might be this city’s simplest pleasure. Many buildings date to the 19th century, and their most striking feature is their ornate doors. Carved out of mahogany or teak, some Zanzibari doors are adorned with brass spikes, while others have intricate patterns, like vines or lotus flowers, etched onto them. Standout portals include the golden door at the House of Wonders, the entrance to the Old Fort, and a collection of doors on Baghani Street. A map of Stone Town’s finest doors can be bought for $4 at the Gallery Bookshop, while a refreshing mango and coconut smoothie (4,000 shillings, or $2.55, at 1,570 shillings to the dollar) can be ordered to go at Lazuli, a tiny cafe with a turquoise door."

Lots of nice pictures, maps and other specifics are included. I'll be copying these details and saving in my computer file on my laptop to prepare for our planning late March 2015 visit there. This media coverage gets one very excited about visiting this famed location with its exotic name/reputation.

Full story at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/04/travel/36-hours-in-zanzibar-tanzania.html?hpw&rref=travel

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Just back from doing a 14-day Celebrity Solstice, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure on this ship and getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for much more information and lots of wonderful pictures on these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 55,053 views for this fun posting.