Back home fashion

Back home inspired by the color and style of those Tanzanian women. I try wrapping. Not unusual for the women to use three or four squares of colorful printed cottons wrapped in creative ways. It will take me some practice!  The more pattern and color the more fun and happy the look.must say it looks far better on dark skin. This look would create quite a stir at my local grocery store. Perhaps with a little practice it will be the look for an art opening. 

17 Amsterdam

Matilda finds her cafe on Dam Square

Pussy cat outdoor cafe.

Red light district fashion

# 17. Dar Es Salam

Sadly leave the sea today.  Morning peace with espresso in the shade of the promenade watching white robed young boys flocking like seagulls along the water's edge. 

With a bright cushion relax in the shade on primitive rope and branch chaise lounges.

At sunset she leaves The House of Wonders in a long white caftan to sail alone in the old wooden dhow guided by a small black body. Into a pearl sea as the sun sets gold and purple.

By the stars a miniature plane flies into Dar Es Salam.

# 16. Persian Princess

Checking grades at Institute of Public Administration.

Chilling out at the highest point for the princess. baths built by The Sultan. Before marriage 1832. Another built for his 99 concubines. Pristine. Virginal.

Slave caves and house used for smuggling slaves out to Europe and Arabia. Terror descending coral cliffs to slavery.

Ginger beer overlooking turquoise.

Dhow sunset cruise. If I saw you in heaven.

15. Wandering in Stone Town

Espresso by the sea. Wandering the streets alone followed by men wanting to guide. Oasis at Emerson Spice House. Elegant. Seductive. Fit for a Zanzibar Princess.

Zanzibar Coffee House. lunch sanctuary. Sketch. Eat. Hide.

Matilda sleeps under a tent of white In a room of blue facing the sea.

Arabian Night.

#14. Indian Ocean Breeze

Day of monkeys. Flocks of schoolgirls flapping wraps like little white nuns fluttering.

Compliment cappuccino at Archipelago after grilled giant prawns dining high above the sea. Calls to Prayer from 40 mosques. Stiff breeze in the crackling palms. Dhows gliding silhouetted on the glassy sea at twilight. Rooftop under pink sky. Red tin roofs. White robed men. Beautiful women in long robes, colorful head wraps, carry themselves like princesses. Fine features, slender bodies, graceful carriage. Strolling on the sea promenade. All slow motion. Pink fade.

Lacy dark balconies on whitewashed stone buildings 300 years old. Dancing palms. Polite merchants taking "no thank you" responding "OK. Be Happy"

Whitewashed room. Everything white except the mahogany bed shrouded in yards of netting. Central courtyard fountain Palms. Vases of bougainvillea. Dark lacy balconies. Shadows of women blue wrapped heads washing washing the dust away.

Dark faces like shadows appearing. Disappearing. Down narrow alleys. Time like long ago.

Cultures mixing Arab, Swahili, European, cappuccino skin. Fine features. High cheekbones. Sometime blue eye. Ebony skin. Almond eyes. Smoky nights. Secrets. Slow. Slow.

# 12. Goodby Tanzania hello Zanzibar

Luggage packed. Terrible rutted dusty 3 plus hours in land rover to Arusha. Flight to Zanzibar tiny plane. Cessna 12 seater.

13. The Spice Island

Warm breeze from Indian Ocean white snapper crystal clear water.

Charming and ancient World Heritage site. Narrow maze like street mixing Arab, Indian, Europeans. Calls to prayer from 40 some mosques in town. Frozen two centuries Ago Like a movie set. Persian Portuguese and Omani and Swahili cultures. In hovels and grand mansion fruit and fish market. Former slave market for 300 years. Lunch at Dr Livingston I presume? Before he explores inner Africa. On the beach under the fig.

African. Arab. Indian. European,Omani behind elaborate carved doors.

Market meat and chickens

Dhows floating on the Indian Ocean. spicy cooking. Calls to prayer. Young western era reading novels alone under a fig tree or opening a hotel. Matilda attracts much attention with her sketching.

Dinner by the lapping sea at Eddie Mercury's spot. "We are the champions". Stiff breeze. Serenade. Lantern light. King fish and chapati.

Rough ride in 6 foot swells to swim with 50 dolphins