Dodoma
Trip Start
Jul 19, 2008
1
6
24
Trip End
Aug 08, 2008
Dodoma,
Tanzania
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Introduced to the perils of African driving again. Our driver was excellent but even he nearly wiped out a motorcyclist who suddenly swerved into our path. Slow progress due to knackered lorries wheezing their way on the gentle climb to Dodoma. The capital was Dar but was moved to Dodoma for a fresh start. Unfortunately Dodoma is still er.. developing.
On the way stopped to see a project helping street children and a secondary school twinned with British schools where we had an enthusiastic welcome from the students. Some impressive traditional dancing including one which invloved burning sticks. It was even more impressive when he set his hat on fire by accident!
Way behind schedule and the organisers getting jumpy as they wanted to arrive before dark as nobody in their right mind drives in the dark here. Not only for the normal hazards of trucks with no lights, bikes, carts, people and animals on the road but also bandits. The government had however provided an armed policeman to keep us company. Had lunch on the bus. Managed to drop my greek salad on my lap on my white tropical suit.
Arrived two hours late in the dark at the New Dodoma Hotel which suggests the old Dodoma hotel may have been seriously lacking. Had a very nice dinner with the Tanzanian CPA. Some really fiesty women MP's. Pat was asked to say a few words of introduction and refused when I asked her, but was virtually ordered too by one of the women MP's. She did.
