Moshi, Tanzania

After months of talking about it, I left SF on Tuesday and spent a night on a the flight to Europe, a night in Amsterdam and finally landed at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania on Thursday the 23rd. At first I was wishing for another night in Amsterdam, but I quickly decided I was ready to get to Africa already and was more than ready to fly out. The border stuff in the airport was really easy, but its $100 for Americans to get visas (only $50 for Brits and most everyoen else).

I've only been here in Moshi a day and half, but I'm already getting my eyes opened a bit to what its like traveling in a very poor 3rd world country (which I've never done before). Our hotel is mainly for Kili trekkers and is well secluded from the town of Moshi and its inhabitants (other than the mostly very nice people that work here). We went into town yesterday and I got my first taste of "real" Africa. Four white guys walking down the street in Moshi definitley draw attention - and not the good kind for the most part. I never really felt it was dangerous, but you do feel like everyone who talks to you is only doing it to try and get something (money) from you (because they are). You want to open up to people and learn about the place, but you don't want to get scammed either. I'll have to perfect my 3rd world travel technique...

Gonna head back in today and walk around some more. I'll take my little point and shoot camera today and snap some shots of town. I brought my dSLR yesterday, but never felt like it was a great idea to take it out of the bag.

We meet the Kili trek group tonight and head out for the mountain tomorrow morning so this will prob be my only post until we're back when I'll post a summit pic!