Saturday 27thth June Part 2

Well we survived the train journey, only 15 hours long! Got into Mombasa at 9.40 am. Weird journey - quirky and old fashioned, train was a little on the shabby side. Was an experience and we are both very glad we did it!

Children begging on the side of the railway tracks pretty much most of the way from 7am till we got into Mombasa. These children are obviously well used to this begging and in actual fact some were very demanding - one older boy demanded I gave him my watch - fat chance!

Talking about giving things, whilst walking to the van bus from the beach today, we were munching a very 'expensive' large packet of crisps and three kids walked by. We called them back to ask if they wanted a crisp - one of them grabbed the packet in a nice way! I was too hungry to let them have the whole packet - so we filled their tiny hands with crisps so they were happy and we were happy!

Anyway after digressing from Saturday's adventures I shall return to them. Having nearly got ripped off by the cab driver from the Station - saved by Jennifer's knowledge and experience of these things and a slap round the head for me due to my naviety we arrived at the hotel. Very nice hotel, very old colonial building on one of the main streets - Moi Avenue. Named after one of the Presidents, in actual fact many of the main streets seem to be named after Presidents.

Seems that we have made us a friend with the Hotel Receptionist he e-mailed us his mobile number, but our social diaries have been to full to fit him in!

After a lovely lovely shower, no showers on the train - long drop communal toilets (you can only imagine my face when I first found out - Jennifer had to coax me to use the loo otherwise I would still have my legs crossed now!) we sat down for a lovely 'cuppa' well I did in the hotel's lovely bar and waited for Serah and her lovely friend Eva. Not that Serah isn't fab too of course. They took us to a local cafe so we could fill our stomachs and we talked a bit about Mombasa's dos and don'ts etc etc. Then off to a supermarket by van/bus for supplies and back by the four of us squeezing into the back of a tuttut! We did have a bit of a giggle, in actual fact when ever Serah's around we do tend to have a bit of a giggle! Someone who finally gets my sense of humour!

Then Jennifer and I went out to a local restaurant/bar for a bit of dinner - that was an experience which I probably won't go into now. Lets just say everything we tended to ask for they didn't have, what they did have came about 1 hour and half later and the fish was, delicious but shall we say a tad over cooked!

Have reminded Jennifer how to play backgammon, huge huge mistake on my part, haven't won one game yet (blame it on my teacher - Darlene)!!!!! So I am banning backgammon and moving onto chess, in the hope I have more success there!

Did a tour of Mombasa with the help of our guide book yesterday, so have seen the sights ranging from Fort Jesus some old relic (no comments please) to the very back streets of the Old Town which is hugely Muslim and very busy and full of locals, only two other tourists that we could spot.

Tried a bit of haggling on a kaftan but brought it anyway as it was incredibly cheap and more expensive in other 'shops'. Jennifer was busy doing her photography, but finally put the camera away - piece of advice if going on holiday with a photographer, negotiate time with them re photos or hide their camera batteries!

Back to the hotel for a spot of lunch, cake for Jennifer salad for me and then off we went to Diani.