24 - North Shore News - Sunday. March 5, 2060 Exotic Zanzibar an ancient crossroads From page 23 conditions relieved only by roadside Yiang-Ylang trees whose beautiful and fragrant flowers become a perfumed oil crop. However, my strongest impression is ofa disproportionate num- ber of children playing on the muddy floor of the outdoor food market or fined up two by two to enter school or just “hanging out,” and in fact we do fearn later that at least half of the 12 mil- lion or so inhabitants are under the age of 15, Zanzibar, just 22 miles off the coast of Tanzania, is our next stop, Famous as an exotic crossroads for trade beoween Arabia and Aftica, which led to the creation of che Swahili language, it’s infamous as the fiteral end of the road for hundreds of thousands of mainland natives who were sold and shipped around the world. In Stone Town we have to crouch down to visit a cellar which was the cramped holding pen tor dozens of slaves. Back outside we walk a maze of narrow, winding streets busy with men siting on the house steps and women, draped in Muslim head scarves, supervising kids who scuttle behind their robes as Wwe sweating and pasty-faced creatures plod by. in its 19th-century heyday weaithy merchants competed to build the most impressive house and today we can still see enough of the hand-carved front entrances and overhanging, bal- conies to appreciate why the UN has designated this a world heritage site to bring international aid for rebuilding. Next the Rorterdam takes us to a couple of the 115 islands in the Seychelles which is primarily a beach and water sports mecca for Europeans. Ironically much of the population of this idyllic and prosperous republic descends from slaves who were shipped here by che British Navy as “freemen” during the 19th century. The first day we tender into Victoria, the world’s smallest capital with French road names and a working replica of a London clock tower in the main intersection. Botanical gardens, spice farms and a varicty of shops compete for our attention and our time quickly disappears. Next day we tender into Praslin (pronounced Prayleen). Snorkel gear in hand we flag a public bus which amicably picks us up mid-stop and for about $1 Cdn bumps us up the scenic east coast to Lazio Beach reputed by who knows who to be the most beautiful in the world. Well there’s no such absolute but it’s certainly gor- geous, offering warm, clear, super salty surfing waves with pass- able snorkelling and topless sunbathing if you’re so inclined! Finally anchered between several of the Maldive islands 1 real- ize with a shock what global warming could really mean as these coral atolls barely stand above sea level. A gold~domed mosque dominates the capital city of Male but there’s very litte else to see so We pay $10 each for a 60 minute round trip boat ride to the nearest good snorkelling. Tie waters are so shallow we have to be careful not to damage ourselves or the coral as we skim over and around their gnarly fantastic shapes chasing brighdy colored fish which are numerous and quite unafraid of what + GMC’ PONTIAC * BUICK BUICK * CADILLAC ‘TRAVEL Summer trips visit desert wildlife at twilight Fron page 3 Adventure,” the agenda features a visit to an authentic recreation of a 2,000-year-old Cahuilla village, which includes a birthing hut, death hut and sweat lodge. Desert Adventures also has permits from the Federal Bureau of Land Management to enter the Santa Rosas ~- the mountain tour we enjoyed. But this wip is only available on request ‘OOGMC Safari SLT — driver seat, deep tint glass, remote key- less, a/c, tilt, speed control, am/fm steres CD & much more. Was $32,085 (endangered bighorn sheep have made the area ecologically sen- sitive). In the summer, when the desert is too hot to explore by dav, Desert Adventures will offer their new “Sunset-Nightwatch Adventure” to see the desert nvilight Huminate the wildlite at play. Trip lengths range from 14-4 hours. The cost: per person ranges from $45 to $129. Calt (760) 324-JEEP. 2000 GME Sonoma Ext Cab | 2900 GMC Se nust look like clumsy whales to them. Returning we're enter- tained by a 20-year-old ferry worker who has learned fluent English, Italian and Japanese so he will always be able to work, if his beloved islands don’t slip into the sea! — Glynis Bolton boarded the Rotterdam Jan. 6 on a Grand World Voyage. Her dispatches will appear regularly in the News until the ship docks in Los Angeles on April 11. Great Pacific tour planned CARISON Wagonlit Travel is putting together a unique journey through British Columbia and Alaska from June 17-30. The 14-day fully-escorted tour includes travel through the interior on three different railroads as well as a seven-night cruise aboard Celebrity Cruises’ five-star luxury ship the Mercury. The first week involves a leisurely trip northward from North Vancouver on BC Rail, VIA Rail and Alaska Rail lines. On Day Seven travellers transfer tu the cruise ship Mercury for a week’s exploration of Alaska’s natural and cultural wonders. For detaiis contact Carlson Wagonlit at 1-800-CARLSON. us fume Sale!’ Britain & Europe Air Only —[ Dep: May 17 to june 21 Returns: by July 10 London Starting from $599.00 midweek *must book by 07 March Bike & Boat Tour Netherlands ” May 01-14 Oct., 2000 from $1029.00 CAD p.p. Sportside, foglamps, a/c, locking differential, Vortec 4300 V6, automatic, aluminum wheels, Sport suspension package, am/fm stereo CD ptay- er, tilt, speed centrol, power windows, power locks, & much mare. Was $28,225. Stk# 20153 $339 or 3.9% 36 mo. iow hm tease. $2,000. Purchase A OP « tst/securty & taxes OAC or 20,159 Cash purchase price 4 Exterided cab, dual 6-way power seat adjusters, 4 tilt, speed control A OP « Ist’security & taxes OAC deep tinted glass, high back buckei seats, a/c, Vortec 8360 V8, Autatrac 4WD, am/im/cass/CD, aluminum wheels, power windows, power locks, much more. Was $42,290. Stk# 20236 815 or 2.9% 36 mo. low km lease, $3,500 Purchase tinance or 36,398 Cash purchase price Extended cab, Highrider off-road performance pk, automatic, 3rd oor, remote keyless, Vortec 4300 V6, power windows, power locks, tilt, speed con- trol, am/im/cass/CD, aluminum wheels & much more. Loaded vehicle. Was $33,990. Stk# 20133 °399 or 3.9% 36 mo. fow km lease. $2,000 Purchase OP + tsUsecurity & taxes OAC finance or °29,984 Cash purchase price 2000 GNC Jimmy 4dr 4X4, Vortec 4300 VG, 190HP engind, a/c, power door SocksAwindows/mirrors, 4 wheel anti-lock braking system, remote keyless, tilt wheel, cruise control, amAm/CD, tocking differential & much more. Was $38,225. Sti 2021S *378 or 1.9% 36 mo. low km lease. $4,865 Purchase OP + fsUsecurity & taxes OAC finance © Vortec 4300 V6 Engine © 200 HP » 4 wheel disc + 4 wheel anti-fock braking system, chrome wheels, grilla & bumper, am/tm stereo, *!t wheel, locking differential, automatic headligis & much more. Was $24,725. Sik# 20206 . 298 or 2.9% 36 mo. low km ivasa, $1,575 Purchase OP + Istsecurity & taxes OAS finance or 21,188 | Cash purchase price 2000 GARG Jimmy SLT 4X4, leather interior, cual pewel te seats, HD trailer package, power locks/win- dows/mirsors, tilt, sped control, am/im/CD play- er, fog lamps, electronic control afc & much more. Loaded. Was $42,520. Stk# 20060 : coe Py a. ats, heated § 398" or 1.9% 5 Purchase 36 mo, low xm lease. $5,300 a OP + Istsecurity & tazes GAC Open Mon-Thurs 9-9, Fri-Sat 9-6 RUC