Mombasa

To get back to Mombasa, we had to cross a small river that flows just south of the city. We had crossed it on our way down to Diani Beach as well. Instead of building a bridge, they have three ferries that constantly shuttle back and forth between the two banks. It’s free for pedestrians to ride the ferry; only cars have to pay. Just a heads up: keep an eye on your luggage while on the ferry. It’s a prime spot for pickpockets since everyone is packed in tight, and it can be a bit chaotic getting on and off. Back in Mombasa, we took a Matatu, a shared taxi van, to Castle Royal Hotel, which is known for being the best hotel at the cheapest price. It turned out to be a great place with nice rooms and a good restaurant. We paid 4000 shillings for a double room with breakfast. Since it was midday and bright out, we could easily stroll around the streets without needing to take a taxi all the time. So, we headed over to the old town. Here, we found streets packed with stalls selling all sorts of things. Some vendors were so eager to make a sale that they followed us for an hour until we finally bought something from them. In the end, we managed to snag a bunch of DVDs, spices, a watch, a T-shirt, and a Kenyan "milk jug." In the evening, we had originally planned to eat at a Mexican restaurant, but when we arrived in the area, we discovered it was closed. Instead, we ended up at Tamarind, which is a sort of resort area with a hotel, casino, restaurant, and bar—one of the best spots in Mombasa. What a stunning restaurant! We sat outside with a view of the river and all the city lights. It was a bit pricey, but a nice treat :) Drinks, red wine, two main courses, and dessert came to 5800 shillings. After dining at the restaurant, each guest receives a free voucher for 100 shillings to use at their casino. Our last night in Mombasa wouldn’t be complete without a visit to a local bar. So, we headed to Casablanca. We quickly realized there were quite a few girls just sitting around, waiting to be "asked to dance" by tourists :) The bar was about 300 meters from our hotel. Still, we had to take a taxi back—it's just not safe to walk here at night.