Once in Mtwara we were again faced with immigration duties. Despite the fact that I had been for a full 2 week before leaving Mtwara everyday at the Immigration office so got to know everyone's face they still wanted to see my passport. I “kindly” refused to show it. We stayed with Annukka's parents in Southern Cross Hotel in Shangani. There was only one other family staying at the resort so again we had the feeling of privacy which companied us for most of the safari.
We had our own little chalet with two bedrooms each with an ensuite, living room between the bedrooms and a small balcony. The room had a great sea view and the sound of the waves at night crashing on the rocks was fantastic. We quickly made the room feel more like Christmas I stuck some balloons on the wall and decorated the fake plastic plant that was in the chalet. Anni had asked for a tree to be delivered to the room so we now had two Christmas trees.
Our time in Mtwara was relaxing which was the whole point for Annukka's parents to come here. We did do some trips to the market in town and had a meal and a small walk around Mikindani on Christmas eve. We tried to organise a Joulu Sauna (Christmas Sauna) at the housing project but due to a lack of wood and other people showing a total lack of respect for the place we passed on the idea. The meal in Mikindani was very nice, according to Reino people need to eat especially well at Christmas time. We ordered a four course meal and afterwards we where very full. Our punctual taxi man – Hasani arrived as usual on time and made our way back to Mtwara. We celebrated of course Finnish style which meant that for me I got to open the presents a day earlier. On Christmas day we were invited to our host family for a meal and they had cooked some much good food it was great to be able to show the parents in-law some local traditional food. They had made lots and lots of pilua, cooked bananas, rice, potatoes, meat with different sauces and a lot more. Again we where very full and let shortly after giving presents to our host family.
On St.Stephens Day/Tapanin päivä we made another trip to market as Annukka's mum wanted to get some last minute shopping done before they left the following day. Come the 27th the parents where all ready for fly off once again to DAR. They would leave the next day back to Finland. We said our goodbyes at Mtwara airport and they proceeded to the check in desk.
It was strange to be back in Mtwara after so long away, the place felt a little bit different. I guess after seeing so many different places during the three weeks. It can easily be forgotten what “home” is like. Anyway we quickly slipped back into the routine of Ugali and beans for lunch again.
Over the next couple of days we relaxed also as we where a bit tired for all the travelling around. I was also spending a lot of time burning the pictures to CD so as to have a back up. We met up with Sanna and Tiina again before the left for their safari. For New Years we relaxed around the house. Most of our friends where in other parts of Tanzania so we spent time trying to beat each other in Bao – the traditional Tanzania board game. Come midnight we heard the fireworks going off and as we had already been awake since the early hours that day we fell asleep shortly afterwards. Karibu 2007!
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