| Photo Information |
Copyright: Jorge Lomonaco (jlomonaco)
![Silver Note Writer [C: 0 W: 0 N: 50]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/n-n-s.gif) (1254) |
| Genre: People |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2004-07-23 |
| Categories: Daily Life |
| Exposure: f/3.5, 1/100 seconds |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2006-05-02 9:33 |
| Viewed: 1195 |
| Points: 0 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Stone Town is the magic capital of Zanzibar, known as the Spice Islands. The archipelago’s original inhabitants were Swahili who, along the years were heavily influenced: first by a 200-years Portuguese occupation and then by Arabs and Indians, as a result of the archipelago’s several centuries’ trade vocation. A top spice supplier, Zanzibar became the largest clove producer in the world, greatly benefiting from its geographical position: during the southern hemisphere’s late Summer -August and September- winds and currents took merchants boats full with spices to the rich markets of the Arabic Peninsula and beyond to India. The northwest monsoon -February-March- brought the ships back home full with artifacts and treasures from those regions
Stone Town reflects all that history, resulting a masterpiece of a melting pot. Its small streets and alleys, mostly intact with a medieval touch, can only be explored by foot and can better be discovered after many hours of wandering without a map. Familiar images of Middle-Eastern medinas are more clearly reflected in the urban conformation and the buildings’ arabesque shapes, with towers of Anglican churches competing for attention with minarets and the odd stupa. The images blend in perfect harmony with Indian influenced details. Strong smells take your mind both to Arab souks and Hindi streets, while people from many different ethnic origins, wearing clothes with distinct influences, go about their daily routine. |
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