Mafia - Fri 31/10/25

Early start, hotel check out with customary turpin tax although only 5$ per night per person but in fairness we are leaving 75% of our luggage for the next three days whilst we move on. Carnage on the mainland so not sure what we're flying into albeit it's just an internal airport transfer, still no Internet but reports aren't positive.

I've put our luggage on security scanner no problems however we are in the wrong terminal so have drag stuff off the generation game style conveyor belt and no cuddly toy here though.

Short walk over to the other terminal and not the expected chaos until we try and check in. only to be told we have been sold tickets for nationals not tourists and will cost a suspiciously exact figure of $700 - I don't think so and a team effort of the three of us 'persuaded' the check-in staff otherwise so clasping the wonka golden ticket aka boarding pass we've pass another hurdle. The departure lounge is somewhat snug, there are many departures showing to Dar Es Salem except ours and when I made a rare polite request for information was bluntly just told wait. 60 Seconds later then told your are boarding but it's just us three and now we are bypassing the mainland and flying direct - which at a guess would cost $700!.

It's a nice 12 seater - bit like the highland flights and we've a choice of seats and view all very much appreciated

Fun flight - I have to be honest and admit even for me this was a very last miniute holiday especially somewhere completly new and was to a large extent depending on the girls input on what they wanted to do/see. I got the hotel location /distance from the Airport somewhat confused and when the local taxi driver wanted $10 for the hotel transfer I thought result only to find out it was about 250 metre away but at least we got there quickly.

Very different hotel which from the outside looked like a compound but nice once inside, breakfast was an experience with the menu on a hand written piece of paper, the butter in a blue band ribban communual pot with inbuilt jam and marmalde in situ and the special of the day being gizzard . Dried bread it was then.

We unpacked for the next three days and just two other guests here. This time I read the Lonely Planet section which was two pages for the whole island then via Tuk Tuk found the coast and the beach , stunning and empty.

Left Robys to have the hotel pool to herself all day before meeting up and wandering into the local village for evening meal.