Feb 15 2013 Looking to Freddie in Zanzibar

• Zanzibar

  https://www.viajesalpasado.com/wp-content/uploads/Zanzibar.jpg

  When he finally landed on the island, a bright September morning 2004, was very clear where he wanted to go, a Stone Town, but did not know where exactly was the birthplace of the late leader of Queen.

• Zanzibar5

  https://www.viajesalpasado.com/wp-content/uploads/Zanzibar5.jpg

  When he finally landed on the island, a bright September morning 2004, was very clear where he wanted to go, a Stone Town, but did not know where exactly was the birthplace of the late leader of Queen.

• Zanzibar2

  https://www.viajesalpasado.com/wp-content/uploads/Zanzibar2.jpg

  When he finally landed on the island, a bright September morning 2004, was very clear where he wanted to go, a Stone Town, but did not know where exactly was the birthplace of the late leader of Queen.

• Zanzibar3

  https://www.viajesalpasado.com/wp-content/uploads/Zanzibar3.jpg

  When he finally landed on the island, a bright September morning 2004, was very clear where he wanted to go, a Stone Town, but did not know where exactly was the birthplace of the late leader of Queen.

• Zanzibar4

  https://www.viajesalpasado.com/wp-content/uploads/Zanzibar4.jpg

  When he finally landed on the island, a bright September morning 2004, was very clear where he wanted to go, a Stone Town, but did not know where exactly was the birthplace of the late leader of Queen.

• Zanzibar6

  https://www.viajesalpasado.com/wp-content/uploads/Zanzibar6.jpg

  When he finally landed on the island, a bright September morning 2004, was very clear where he wanted to go, a Stone Town, but did not know where exactly was the birthplace of the late leader of Queen.

• Statue of Freddie Mercury in Montreux Lake

  https://www.viajesalpasado.com/wp-content/uploads/Zanzibar9.jpg

  When he finally landed on the island, a bright September morning 2004, was very clear where he wanted to go, a Stone Town, but did not know where exactly was the birthplace of the late leader of Queen.

In those years teens a scooter ride to the airport was an adventure package. Then there was mobile and now, since the distance, hard to imagine how he could reach me my friend Joaquin that last morning of July 1986. Anyway, I heard him say hastily: “Queen landing at El Prat in an hour ". I did not ask how he knew (professional deformation then I had not yet pushed to doubt everything) ni me importaba. The band Freddie Mercury played the next day in the Mini Estadi and if it had already reached Barcelona would be to fall. Twenty minutes later we were frantic dodging cars for airport road in his old scooter (confess that without a helmet, I think it was not even mandatory).

With a fruitful career already behind him, Queen moved tens of thousands of fans to their concerts around the world. But at the airport there was no one waiting. Maybe because no one had heard of its imminent arrival or, worse, it was not even planned. We waited and waited and, finally, we saw them out the door. There was no pushing or screaming or fainting. Even bodyguards. We were alone and went to meet him as one who addresses some old friends (and of course you were; I bought their first album with just twelve years). We took pictures and we got their autographs on cuts Rock Espezial (idols then no stamps distributed). I remember above all the intense look of Freddie mustache lifted up on the Turkish grocer.

I remember above all the intense look of Freddie mustache lifted up on the Turkish grocer

Later we guard your doorstep (the old Princess Sofia the Diagonal) until dawn with little success. Apparently they had prepared a big party at a nightclub Sitges. Zanzibar was for me then only the Indian Tanzanian island where he was born Freddie (because Mercury was always, to his followers, Freddie secas) in 1947 as Faruk Bulsara when his father worked at the British Embassy.
Probably, and dreamed of one day underfoot, but this effort, even unconsciously, macerate began that day.

But almost twenty years later, there was. Freddie was dead (the place where his ashes were scattered, Swiss lake Montreaux, is pending another visit; maybe that's why I have chosen as cover photo of this report the Mercury statue on Lake, to remember that endeavor). The 24 November 1991, to be exact. The news spread of wardroom wardroom before forming in for dinner at the Infantry Academy Toledo. I served, Now, to know that he had a pending trip to Zanzibar (that for the moment there was no money to pay). So when I finally landed on the island, a bright September morning 2004, was very clear where he wanted to go, a Stone Town, but did not know where exactly was the birthplace of the author of Bohemian Rhapsody.

We let ourselves be engulfed by the maze of alleys where water flushes at will, where odors, so deep, seems that weigh

From the Darajani market -a riot of contrasts, of skinned cow heads bobbing to the vaporous fabrics posts species, shells of fresh fish to humidity of tropical fruits- let us swallow the maze of alleys where water flushes at will, where odors, so deep, seems that weigh. We walked through evocative carved doors, scrutinized by the penetrating eyes of Indian traders, the screams of women who sell their kangas in Changa Bazar Street. It smells of salt, in canela, sewer also.

The light from the sea makes its way slowly, with the Forodhani Gardens and old palaces of the sultans and slave to a step. Another intense aroma strikes you in the face, this time the fish is cooked on the grill in the springs located near the old fort. The tourist boats depart for Prison Island for the daily ration of giant tortoises. Everything perfect but where is Freddie?

I look out the gloom the courtyard. No one. You have not come this far to doubt, not the time. "Freddie was born here, after all ", repito me

Questions Mahmoud, who has guided our steps through the streets of Stone Town this morning. We approach walk to Shangani Road, behind the port. "There you go", slams are showing me a peeling facade barred windows hovering in a sign that reads: "Camlurs Restaurant".

I look out the gloom the courtyard. No one. You have not come this far to doubt, not the time. "Freddie was born here, after all ", Mahmoud repeat while I take the picture of rigor. If I had an Ipod Hand (Then there were) had sounded the epic "Bohemian Rhapsody". Then you would have heard more strongly than ever his famous "¡Bismillah! ¡We will not let you go! ¡Let him go!”, zanzibaritas some have adopted as the anthem in their quest for independence from Tanzania after half a century of life together.