At this point, I feel like a broken record, but I cannot believe our time in Tanzania has come to an end.  When we first planned the trip, I knew when we got to Tanzania, we were entering the more challenging part of the trip. I was uneasy and honestly had no idea what to expect.  Now that our time as come to an end, Africa would be my first pick of places to return. Here’s my reflection of Dar es Salaam:

Running

My goal was 80-miles again, but I knew it was going to be a challenge because of the weather.  I  have never been one to run well in the heat and Tanzania is HOT and HUMID! I prepared myself for shorter runs, more often. Upon arriving to the apartment, I found the gym was very well equipped.  The gym had 3- really nice treadmills and it was air conditioned!! So, I quickly embraced running on the treadmill and actually never ran outside once.  I ended up starting House of Cards and found that I could get 5-miles in during one episode, so it was perrr-fect.

To give you an idea of how hot it was in Dar es Salaam, I couldn’t actually run in the gym without turning on the air conditioning ahead of time. The gym had seven air conditioning units.  I very quickly learned that it took about 30-mins for the gym to cool down enough that it wasn’t a sauna.  I would run up to the gym, turn on all seven units, and then set an alarm on my watch for 30-mins.  I found that if I didn’t turn on the air, I really struggled to breath.

Total Miles: 88.4 miles

Loop Distance: 8k

Best Pace: 8:19 average pace / mile

Here are a few pictures of my running path — 😂😂:

^I always ran on the middle treadmill.  You can see there’s an air conditioner directly behind the treadmills and if I ran on the middle one, the air blew on my back just perfectly!

^While it became mindless running, I actually really enjoyed it.  On every run, I’ve always had a smell. In London, it was cigarettes smoke. In Amsterdam, it was mirijuana. In Kiyv, it was body oder. Italy it was manure. Sitges was the ocean breeze. AND in Tanzania … it was sweaty me … the little gym didn’t have great ventilation, so I often had the pleasure of smelling my own sweaty self during my runs.

^I always set a kilometer goal. I found that it kept me motivated.

Coffee

As with out typical check-in, figuring out how to make coffee at the apartment was resolved within the first 48-hours. The apartment had a tea kettle, but nothing else.  On our first shopping trip to the Village Supermarket, I picked up a French Press and a couple bags of Tanzania coffee.  I feel in love with the Tananiza coffee, so I was set.

I also never want to forget the dainty, little coffee cups in the apartment.  I’ve always said there’s a difference between a tea cup and a coffee cup, these were tea cups, but I embraced them.

While I did try a few coffee shops, I really preferred the French Press at the apartment.

  

Self-Care

I wasn’t sure what my self-care options would be in Dar es Salaam, but it didn’t take me long to notice nail salons were everywhere!  I did some research and ended up going to the Sea Cliff Hotel for a manicure and pedicure.  They did an amazing job and it was very inexpensive.

^I cannot believe I didn’t get a picture of my nails in Dar es Salaam!! 😢😢😢 #fail

As for lashes, I was fully expecting to just let them go.  Thinking there was no chance I would find a salon, I googled and found Dashing Diva Beauty Lounge.  I waited until late in the month and went to have a full set on lashes. During my visit, I learned the technician that was doing my lashes also does Miss Tanazania’s lashes, so I felt super posh. They were by far the softest, most natural lashes.

 

What I loved about Dar es Salaam:

• The food was incredible! I ate SO many avocados and mangos and loved it.  I went to the store almost daily to get fresh produce.
• The people were also really unforgettable. I remember going into Tanzania, I was worried about the people.  We had read stories that Dar es Salaam could be dangerous for Americans, but honestly, I don’t know where that rumor even came from. I never felt unsafe, I never felt unwelcome.  If anything, I felt more welcomed in Tananiza than any other country we’ve been to on the trip.
• Christmas was pretty unforgettable too.

What I didn’t love about Dar es Salaam:

• The heat! It was so hot and humid all the time. I remember when we first arrived thinking to myself, there is no way I am going to make it a full month in this heat … and then on our last day in Dar es Salaam we went out for a walk and I remember thinking … this heat isn’t that bad.
• The malaria meditation was rough too!  We had to take a malaria pill the entire time we were in Tanzania.  The medication was rough on my stomach and it also messed with my sleep patterns. Some nights I really struggled to sleep and other nights I had really bad dreams.

Here are a few of my other favorite pictures from Dar es Salaam:

^Jim and me on the safari! Probably my favorite picture of us from Tanzania.

^I looked out the window for hours while on the safari and honestly, I was never not overwhelmed by the Tanzania’s beauty.

^Christmas mug, homemade eggnog, sunscreen, swimsuit, and beach nails — heaven really.

^Jim opening his one and only gift on Christmas — Chips Ahoy cookies.  Nolan and I search for weeks to find them.