We were sitting in a small Zanzibar cafe in Stone Town off the coast of Tanzania. Stone Town is a city with a long history of trading in spices and slaves it brought great wealth to the city, but after the trade stopped everything appeared to freeze in time.
We wandered around the hot streets of Stone Town until we started to make us crave something cold. We ventured into the Zanzibar Coffee House, which was humming with activity and had one table left. We were relegated to the table next to the door – a seat that is usually the most undesirable in a restaurant due to the noise and heat that lingers its way in from the outside world. However, it took us about five minutes to realize that we had gotten the best seat in the cafe.
We watched life pass by in Stone Town. It made me wonder about their lives and where they were headed. Were they having a good or a bad day? Were they sad? Or happy? Instead of pondering in the small cafe, I reached for my travel camera. I figured I would live their lives for that fleeting moment. We sat in the Zanzibar cafe and watched the world pass by. I loved every image, so I felt I had to share with you.
A day in a Zanzibar cafe
Do you ever sit back and people watch? I think today was one of my favorite days in Zanzibar as I watched daily life unfold from a different perspective (okay you may have seen us in a couple shots too). The people I saw all had something unique about them, and I love Zanzibar for that. Even though the island is considered Tanzania, it really is like its own separate country with a different vibe and culture. The people of Zanzibar are friendly, welcoming, and never stop saying “Hakuna Matata.”
If you’re ever in Zanzibar a visit to this little Zanzibar cafe is a must. The Zanzibar Coffee House roasts all of its own coffee and is located right in the heart of Stone Town (next to Emerson Spice). Their food is fresh and delicious and this is where we found the very best lattes and cappuccinos on the island!
