STONE TOWN, ZANZIBAR

I HAVE STAYED IN STONE TOWN A FEW TIMES, AND IT CAN BE FRUSTRATINGLY HECTIC. HOWEVER, I THE MOST RECENT TIME I STAYED AT VILLA FORODHANI, AN OCEAN FRONT PALAZZO AND PART OF THE OLD SULTAN'S PALACE COMPLEX, BOOKED THROUGH AIRBNB, AND IT MADE FOR A RATHER SWEET STAY. EMERSON ON HURUMZI IS GREAT TOO, A BEAUTIFULLY AUTHENTIC AND EXOTIC HOTEL, AND YOU CAN DINE ON THE ROOFTOP THERE EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT STAYING. STONE TOWN IS INTOXICATING, THE LABYRINTH OF ALLEYS BUZZ WITH SCOOTERS AND STREET FOOD SIZZLING ON GRILLS, I WANT A COOL CALM PLACE TO RETREAT TO WHILST THERE. IT IS A DIFFERENT WORLD TO THE WHITE SANDY BEACHES LAPPED BY THE AQUAMARINE INDIAN OCEAN ON THE COAST, YET IT IS THE HEARTBEAT OF ZANZIBAR. STONE TOWN IS A REAL MIX OF ARAB, INDIAN, SWAHILI AND EUROPEAN INFLUENCES FROM IT'S SPICE TRADE DAYS.