Sunday @ Zaranda

After a full day of working with Mentor Teachers on Saturday, I looked forward to sleeping later and exploring the grounds of the Zaranda Hotel.  My internal clock woke me at 6 am, but I was soon able to go back to sleep and finally got up around 9. Then my morning routine -including two cups of Nescafe instant coffee.  It’s still hard to believe- on the continent that’s one of the worlds’ top coffee growers, regular ground coffee is not readily available.  Someone explained it to me like this- “We just grow it, we don’t process it!”  I guess the preferred instant or freeze-dried product is also convenient.  But as real coffee lovers know, there is no comparison to the flavor to a cup of freshly ground coffee. 

By the time I finished doing a little hand laundry, there was a knock at my door.  The housekeeper wanted to clean my room.  In thirty minutes I said, and tried to hurriedly get dressed.  I suppose my room was the last on his list.  When I opened the door, his equipment was propped and stacked on the opposite wall and he was sitting in one of the chairs in the lounge area near the elevators.

I headed to the stairs.  Yes, I’m on the 9^th floor, but thought I needed to get some exercise otherwise my Nigerian rice+ diet is going to catch up with me. As I rounded the 3^rd floor landing I heard the thumping of lively music and stopped to look out the window to see if a reception or party was taking place on the grounds.  There was nothing I could see so I continued on my way.

I was a little startled when I reach the first floor.  Seated facing the stairs was a man dressed in fatigues wearing a bullet proof vest and armed with a machine gun.  Nearby were two other officers also armed and with vests that identified them as police.  The music was coming from the same room where my workshop had been conducted the day before.  Reconfigured, it was now the site of a meeting of politicians from around the state.  Twenty or so men were sitting around when I got to the lobby apparently waiting for the meeting to start.  A number of cars were parked outside along the driveway and in the parking lot.  Groups of men stood around talking for about 45 minutes before they all went inside. 

Of course I wanted to take pictures, especially of the guards, but common sense prevailed.   I explored the grounds, discovered the “After  Six Grill and Bar” and  sat for a while sipping on a Schweppes Bitter Lemon—next to bottled water, my drink of choice here.  This outdoor area is similar to the one at the Dankani in Sokoto.  There are 6-8 gazebo-like structures with a main grill and “bar” area.  The cook was at church; however a young man told me fresh fish was grilled there every day. Prices he said depend on the size of the fish.  I’ll definitely have to check this out.  Most restaurants serve mostly beef and chicken dishes, so fish would be great change of pace.

As I made my way back up to the 9^th floor, the policeman in the protective vest greeted me, Good Afternoon, Mam, so you came back, huh?”  Very hospitable.  

The day has been restful. So now I’ve got to find out how I’m going to get to Kano for Sallah and to attend the Durbar at which our country rep has made reservations.  I'm excitedly anticipating seeing the regalia and horsemanship of this event.  Unfortunately, one can't just hop on a bus or hire a car for the 4 hour trip from Bauchi to Kano, but more about that later...