Sleeping on Buses, Wandering Streets

With Namibia now in my wake I find myself sauntering through Zambia.  I have welcomed the change of scenery, environment, and culture.  Although Zambia borders Namibia in the northeast, it is an entirely different country with a very different feel.  To me, it is much more Africa, with its busy street culture and chaotic public transport.  I have opted to travel at night  because as I look at it, traveling at night "kills two birds with one stone" - I get to where I am going and I don't have to pay for accommodation.  It would be a huge exaggeration to say that I get a good night's rest on the bus, but adrenaline nevertheless keeps me functioning.  In a strange way it is actually quite enjoyable; arriving at a chaotic bus station in a dream-like state, plopping  myself upon a dirty stool, drinking milky sweet tea and people watching until the sun comes up. 

However, after two consecutive night buses, a bed becomes very much desired.  After a day in Livingstone, I made the journey to Zambia's capital city, Lusaka.  I had no intent of spending any time in Lusaka but a spontaneous change of plans left me with a day to spend wandering the city.  Lusaka was worth the diversion.  There is nothing extraordinary about the city, but it does have a very "African" feel in an urban kind of way.  I had an enjoyable day relaxing at the hostel and wandering the streets in search of something interesting.  What I found was that it has the same hassles as any other big city but Zambians are warm and friendly people.  One day is enough though.  Lusaka has certainly got me giddy to see more of Zambia.

Near downtown Lusaka, Zambia

The busy and chaotic Lusaka Inter-City Bus Station with colorful buses, hawkers, food vendors, and aggressive bus representitives (for lack of a better word) that push and pull you to their particular bus.

I always enjoy exploring markets.  I found myself here in the hardware market with this chap who was more than happy to pose with his fine wire.

Amongst the nuts, bolts and hammers was a meat vendor - don't mind if I do.

The backstreets of Lusaka are lined with these beautiful flowering trees (jacaranda?).  I am not sure if I liked this tree for what it was or if beacause it was in front of the embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo....