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Tanzania Trip -- Sunday, July 15, 2012

July 15
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.

July 15
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.

July 15
Le Jacaranda Hotel sign
July 15
Old section of Le Jacaranda Hotel (our building)
July 15
2nd-floor porch outside our rooms; good birding position
July 15
2nd-floor porch outside our rooms; good birding position
July 15
My room - the bed takes 80% of the floor space
July 15
My open window with screens
July 15
Cathy and wall art at Le Jacaranda
July 15
Wall art at Le Jacaranda
July 15
Main Le Jacaranda building (reception down, bar and food up)
July 15
Open-air reception area at Le Jacaranda Hotel
July 15
Dining tables in the mini-golf, garden area at Le Jacaranda Hotel
July 15
Covered walkway at Le Jacaranda Hotel
July 15
Restroom for the bar and restaurant at Le Jacaranda Hotel
July 15
New building under construction at Le Jacaranda Hotel
July 15
Entrance road and mini golf course at Le Jacaranda Hotel
July 15
Wall art at Le Jacaranda Hotel
July 15
Wall art (we are in the impala rooms) at Le Jacaranda Hotel
July 15
Wall art at Le Jacaranda Hotel
July 15
Wall art at Le Jacaranda Hotel
July 15
Wall art at Le Jacaranda Hotel
July 15
Cathy and Lydia on main road heading towards downtown
July 15
Stop for a samosa snack (and to dodge street peddlers)
July 15
New-style grocery store
July 15
New-style grocery store
July 15
New-style grocery store
July 15
New-style grocery store
July 15
Lydia checking out at new-style grocery store
July 15
New and old together (street market and new daily flights sign)
July 15
Street scene along main road
July 15
Street scene along main road
July 15
Street scene along main road
July 15
Old-style grocery store
July 15
Old-style grocery store
July 15
Old-style grocery store
July 15
Street scene
July 15
Wall art along road
July 15
Functional wall art
July 15
Cathy and Lydia by Arusha Clock Tower
July 15
Street scene; Mt. Meru in the distance
July 15
Street scene heading back to the Le Jacaranda Hotel
July 15
More wall art at Le Jacaranda Hotel
July 15
One of the pet Leopard Tortoises at Le Jacaranda Hotel
July 15
I used my new Dorcy flashlight to spotlight and photograph nocturnal House Geckos high on the walls at the hotel
July 15
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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