I took a cruise along the eastern coast of Africa several years ago. Zanzibar was one of our stops. I had always heard of Zanzibar, the spice trade, and just what an exotic place it was. This made me quite eager for the visit.

The city was a very interesting blend of African and Arab influences. I toured the House of Wonders, which was well worth the visit. The architecture of many of the buildings reflected the Arab influence as did the dhows which still sailed the waters around the island even then.

The only thing that put me off about Zanzibar was the fact that it was difficult to get around at times near the waterfront, as there were so many people there who were begging from us.