My first day in Afrika. A lot of impressions, feelings, thoughts. I did not expect that I will get through the border of Zimbabwe so easily but I passed it like a VIP person- no questions, no checkings. All the tourists were standing in along queue and waiting to pay for visa but I did not have to do it as my visa was in my passport for already a couple of days:) Mobile phones do not work. Neither lithuanian, nor english one. I find some network providers but the connection is blocked. I am still not sure if it is the problem of my phone or of Zimbabwe. Now I am staying with Rachel from couchsurfing so for a couple more days I will have internet at home. After that I will use internet caffes- saw a some of them today.
Now I am staying in Harare. The district of the city is called Highlands though I can not see any highland around. Today when I was walking around I felt quite strange- all the houses with high fences, wires, security systems. I was told that everything in here works like that: you have to make your house more secure than your neighbour’s and they will rob him, not you. I did not feel unsafe when I was having a little trip to the shops which took me two hours (though locals said it is “very very close”). Probably to them it is close but comparing to the distances which lazy Europeans walk- this “shopping trip” was like a marathon:) I was walking slowly along the streets and was trying to feel the smell of Africa. It was smelling like colorful blossoms! It was raining not long ago but before it, as Rachel said, there was no rain since last Christmas. It should start raining more and more as it is the rainy season so everything should become even more green than it is now.
When you walk along green streets with flowered trees and villas behind the fences you can not see white faces. Now there is very little white people left in Zimbabwe and the ones who are left go by cars, not on foot. I believe life of the locals is different from that. They walk on foot carrying thing on their heads and babies on their backs; they go by buses where it would be difficult to find space even for a fly; in a month they earn less than an average Scotsman spends every evening in the bar. They are friendly, most of them greet you when you pass by or start waving to you even if you are quite far. Today I decided not to go by bus to the centre as I just wanted to feel Africa with my feet before starting traveling by any wheeled transport.
When I saw some groups of people and cars in the horizon, when I started to hear noise, I knew that the shops are close. Shell petrol station, lots of small shops, one big one, people selling fruits in the streets. The first impression- food is definitely not cheap here. Especially if you are buying anything western or something like yogurt, chocolate, tampax, toothpaste, shampoo. I still do not know what food do the locals eat but I think I will get to know soon. I heard it is some kind of porridge for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Today I bought some products which are quite (or half:) western: yogurt, rise, chocolate, soup, soya and a couple of tomatoes. I believe it is not the food most of the locals eat. I allowed it for myself for the first day only:)
I am waiting for Giedre to come. Three days left- Giedre, come fatser, I want to trave with you!
I have to get up at 5am as I am going to Rachel’s work and after that will be heading to town.
Now I am staying in Harare. The district of the city is called Highlands though I can not see any highland around. Today when I was walking around I felt quite strange- all the houses with high fences, wires, security systems. I was told that everything in here works like that: you have to make your house more secure than your neighbour’s and they will rob him, not you. I did not feel unsafe when I was having a little trip to the shops which took me two hours (though locals said it is “very very close”). Probably to them it is close but comparing to the distances which lazy Europeans walk- this “shopping trip” was like a marathon:) I was walking slowly along the streets and was trying to feel the smell of Africa. It was smelling like colorful blossoms! It was raining not long ago but before it, as Rachel said, there was no rain since last Christmas. It should start raining more and more as it is the rainy season so everything should become even more green than it is now.
When you walk along green streets with flowered trees and villas behind the fences you can not see white faces. Now there is very little white people left in Zimbabwe and the ones who are left go by cars, not on foot. I believe life of the locals is different from that. They walk on foot carrying thing on their heads and babies on their backs; they go by buses where it would be difficult to find space even for a fly; in a month they earn less than an average Scotsman spends every evening in the bar. They are friendly, most of them greet you when you pass by or start waving to you even if you are quite far. Today I decided not to go by bus to the centre as I just wanted to feel Africa with my feet before starting traveling by any wheeled transport.
When I saw some groups of people and cars in the horizon, when I started to hear noise, I knew that the shops are close. Shell petrol station, lots of small shops, one big one, people selling fruits in the streets. The first impression- food is definitely not cheap here. Especially if you are buying anything western or something like yogurt, chocolate, tampax, toothpaste, shampoo. I still do not know what food do the locals eat but I think I will get to know soon. I heard it is some kind of porridge for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Today I bought some products which are quite (or half:) western: yogurt, rise, chocolate, soup, soya and a couple of tomatoes. I believe it is not the food most of the locals eat. I allowed it for myself for the first day only:)
I am waiting for Giedre to come. Three days left- Giedre, come fatser, I want to trave with you!
I have to get up at 5am as I am going to Rachel’s work and after that will be heading to town.
