Tanzania - Moshi Guns and all

I made it to Moshi yesterday. I was a bit nervous about the bus ride here, making sure that I got on the right bus and with all my stuff. Isaac and Mr. Bean told me to be careful because the bus station is plagued with thieves. I walked briskly from my hotel with all my bags and hopped on the first bus that I heard was going to Moshi. Guys were standing in front of its dor yelling"Moshi, Moshi." I got on and asked a couple people if I made it to the right bus. All was good and I even got charged the local price. The bus flew to Moshi. I mean the driver gunned it every chance he had. I have no idea how fast we were going and probably don't want to know.

Sitting next to me on the bus was man named Mahari. He was on his way back to Moshi where he worked in admissions at a local hospital. When we got to Moshi he was kind enough to walk me to my hotel. He asked, "Can I escort you to your hotel?" I was skeptical but said yes. And he walked me there without any problem and didn't try to hussle me. I was pretty happy about that.

For dinner, I decided to go to Deli Chez, a western/Indian restaurant that someone recommended. On my way there I got lost but knew I was close. I asked a taxi driver and of course he wanted me to hop in and he would take me there. I told him no way because I knew I was close. He laughed and said it was just around the corner.

As I walked around the corner, I noticed there was a policeman with an AK47 in the street, waving people back. He was clearing the street right in front of the police station. People were getting out of the way. The restaurant I wanted to go to was right on the other side of the station so I had to wait. Then, there was an opening as people crossed to the other side. I ran with them. The police guy was waving cars and a bus off the street. Then, a pickup truck like an army transport, shot out of the police station. The truck gunned it and was out of the area pretty quickly. There were guys in the back with guns as well. I quickly went into the restaurant and asked what happened. The waitress said she thought it was a thief. Needless to say the restaurant was overpriced so I kept on looking. I found anything place that was cheaper and didn't have as much activity outside.