Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

While the Seychelles could be considered the beginning of Africa for this world cruise, but arriving in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, there is no doubt.

Dar has over 4 million inhabitants, yet it does not seem as crowded as Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam nor Colombo, Sri Lanka. While there is new construction in Dar, there is not near as many as those other cities.

The first thing I noticed was a mobile ATM at the dock – there was essentially an armored truck you could walk into. Dodging the ATM-truck, we visited the National Museum of Tanzania. It was not amazing, but there are some things of note: the first thing I liked were the lights in the parking lot.

They displayed an elephant skull, and it reminded me of a news article I read year ago that hypothesized that mammoth skull fossils in Europe were the source s of the Cyclops myth, as they mistook the sinus cavity as an eye socket.

While I am familiar with the famous archeological digs in the Olduvai Gorge, I did not know it was in Tanzania. I love learning stuff. There was a local art section in the museum. I didn’t buy anything, but I admire the skill it takes to carve such thin wood.

We then visited the Makumbusho Village Museum, which displayed the different hut building architecture of the various historical tribes within Tanzania. It’s not very sexy, but I appreciate a nation taking the time to display such things.

During our travels we did a drive-by thru a local market. I removed the noise from the video as it was full of fellow guests talking and traffic noise.

Some small things:

• A guest bought a small thing, and the dealer only wanted more new US dollars – the 2009 version was not worth as much as the 2013 dollar. I have never heard of that before
• Many of the newer buildings had medical offices, with big ads. I wonder if there is medical tourism in Dar.

Dar is not a city you’d choose to visit for itself, and much of the city is painfully third world. But I’m interested in how it’ll grow in the next decade or so.