Stone Town Sunrise

Took to the streets of Stone Town early this morning. I love sunrise o'clock. The motions of a city to prepare for the day. The softness of the light. The smooth and gentle quality of faces that just woke up - carrying over some of the peace of sleep into the day.

Stone Town is the main city in Zanzibar, an island off the coast of Tanzania. It's otherworldly. Over hundreds of years, people have used this island as a strategic port - most notably for slave and spice trade. The city is an ancient labyrinth of small cobblestone streets and buildings made of stone, built to last. The most dramatic display of cultural fusion humankind has ever produced. Food, architecture, people carrying stories of arabic, african, european and indian making.

The rain started to come down while I was roaming around this morning. I ducked into the front stoop of a school and listened to the brilliant sounds of kids singing hymns. A guy joined me and we chatted a bit. Before I left he said, "Sarah, you have the smile of an angel, and you walk strong like a man. This is lucky."
Shaking head.
Smiling.

Have a look for yourself