Emerald Zanzibar Resort and Spa Part 2

Continues to wow me every day! I forgot to mention yesterday that the sand is amazing! I don’t know how to describe the consistency…the closest I can think of is a between baking flour and granulated sugar…but definitely more like flour! So soft to walk on. And because it’s white it has a very high albedo effect so it reflects most of the sun instead of absorbing it - so even at the hottest time of the day it is usually cool! It sometimes gets warmer, but never hot. You can always have your shoes off and walk around in it. Unlike Maui where you have to run everywhere without shoes - lol! The stone pathways here are very hot in the heat however, so always good to have your shoes with you to put on if you get to a path.

I had a lovely breakfast and made it to the beach, still the first to pick a chair, even though it was closer to 9am. The tide was in so I had lots of peaceful tranquility floating and swimming in the deep water - down from the boats - for about half an hour before sitting in the sun to dry. I would love to sit in the sun for hours and get the best tan. However my skin does not allow for that - and really, this close to the equator it only takes minutes to burn. I thought I was so good yesterday with sunscreen, but the intensity was so strong that I did get red in a few areas. During my amazing spa treatment yesterday, my amazing masseuse, Aziza, even gave me a complementary aloe treatment on my face while I rested in my wrap. This involved aloe from the fridge on my face for about 10 mins, and then wiped off with an iced cloth and then the iced cloth on my face for 5 more! It was heavenly! And my face wasn’t even burned - just very freckled! But that’s okay, I’ll take it! Most people here have such beautiful dark skin to begin with that I just stick out! What they think of as me being burned is just me a little pink…when I’m burned I’m bright red and in pain - none of that here - although I have opted for full shade between 11 and 3 today! Jk, I know that you are always smart with sun, but I have just always wanted to be tanned - lol!

Some pics from today:

I bought a sarong from these ladies today…

This is how I actually looking walking around here - red and sweaty…I just don’t usually share this look 😜

Figured I may as well pop this today - Bella I wish you had been here to pop it! It was very loud!

On my way back to the beach I felt it was time to try some ice cream, so I got mango.

I decided to try a cocktail, as this was really the first day I was having more than one drink - I felt I wasn’t getting my money’s worth…but I actually think water and pop are worth more here. So this was my second cocktail (yesterday was Blue Lagoon) and I opted for Georgia Peach Long Island Iced tea. Now normally when I have had Long Island iced tea it has tasted like coke. This tasted like a glass of vodka - same with yesterday’s cocktail. I don’t like my drinks that strong, unless I’m drinking them straight - and who just sips vodka? So needless to say I didn’t really like it - but fortunately my favourite beach server, Miss Kadijah, saw me coming and was waiting with an ice cold coke! Don’t worry…alternating with Coke I was able to get all of the vodka down. 😜

After this I was super drunk - I didn’t realize how drunk until I started talking to the family next me - whoa! If I had known I would have just kept my mouth shut and not embarrassed myself. Too late! They were a group of 6 at the umbrella next to me and I offered them my second chair as I didn’t need it. The father talked to me quite a bit, and he didn’t mention that I was slurring - I appreciated that! But maybe he didn’t notice - they were from California. First people from North America that I knowingly encountered since arriving here. He said he was happy to talk to someone who spoke English so well - lol! I can certainly speak it better when sober.

Then, a smaller than yesterday, group of acrobatic boys came along! They weren’t nearly as good as yesterday, but I hadn’t tipped yesterday and I was feeling generous today so they got my drunken generosity - so of course they loved me. And they entertained me, so all good.

A family a few chairs down had a son, about 10 who came running up from the water yelling “mom, mom! I found a hermit crab!” She recoiled and said “get that away from me!” While another woman and I were walking over to see it. Poor kid - at least he got to tell us all about it - it was cute. Then the family I gave my chair to found 4 living animals. One was a hermit crab, but the other three appeared to be the OG critters. Their mom was much more receptive and I had fun visiting the critters - I didn’t see ANY while I was in the water…but I also wasn’t looking.

I packed up after a bit and headed to lunch. I was going to stick to water for the rest of the day, but something came over me and I ordered sangria - lol! Also way too strong. I tried watering it down but still too strong so I just left it on the table and drank my water. The water went well with the large octopus tentacle I had for lunch…

After lunch I headed to the garden pool. I had always wanted to spend time there and today was the day! It’s cool because it has a pool bar. So I claimed a seat and ordered a shot of Johnny Walker and a Coke on the side. I swear there were three shots in my glass. I mean if you want to get drunk this is the place to be - but it is wasn’t my plan - however it was how I ended up! I met another family - dad was on the seat next to me - from Dallas! 2 NA families in one day! We chatted a lot and his kids were amazed that I could guess they were in grades 2 and 4. I told them it’s my super power as a teacher - lol! I mean, I am usually pretty good at guessing how old kids are…We chatted through my - 3 shots - of whiskey, before I apologized for my state and let them get back to their family vacation. They said that they didn’t notice and that they really enjoyed talking to me: see…I’m not always embarrassing when drunk. (this whiskey is making me awesome!!) I made my way through the pool and back to my sun chair. Where I immediately ordered water and started eating peanut butter cookies from the jar on the bar. It still took a while to wear off though. It was around 9am Calgary time, and Becca was texting me so we face timed for a bit…she took good care of me. She made sure I didn’t drown and suggested I go back to my room and lay down. Smart kid!

First I stopped by reception to arrange my transfer to the airport tomorrow. I can’t believe I’m at the end of my trip!! It has been amazing but I’m ready to head home.

Once back at the room I checked in to both my domestic flight to Dar Es Salam on the main land, and my international flight home. I then laid in bed and watched some Netflix. I was eventually feeling sober and just in time for my “a la carte” dinner reservation at Carnivorous. AB beef is way better - but this was still delicious! The whole place was decorated with wooden carvings of African animals and cow skins all over the floor as rugs. I was happy it wasn’t real animals on the wall or endangered skins on the floor! I took this photo of me before going to dinner - not sure why I didn’t have my heels on before the photo - but those are my super comfy, hotel provided slippers - lol!