Dar in Arabic is a Port or a Haven. Salaam in Arabic is Peace Therefore Dar es Salaam is a Peaceful PortIndeed it is. It is so scenic and serene. The port with its very narrow bottleneck entrance, keeps ships from being buffeted by the waves of the open ocean, naturally protected. The harbor is like a large lagoon. The Catholic church ( the German built spired Saint Joseph's Cathedral) that we attended, and received all the sacraments in, overlooks the harbor. The adjoining St. Joseph's Convent School where I studied from Kindergarten, aso overlooks the harbor. Most of the shoreline of this bucolic harbor. except for the area where the docks were constructed, is a sandy shoreline, ringed with coconut palms.Most Goans spent their evenings fishing in this peaceful harbor. Families took an evening stroll along the rim of the harbour lagoon, while we youngsters went down to the shore line and chased sand crabs, One day with two of my friends, in my little dinghy I decided to explore one end of the harbor, which led to what we knew as Kurasini creek. We puttered across the harbor, pausing for large freighters of passenger liners, entering or leaving the harbor, and slowly made our way to discover the creek, which was longer than we had anticipated. When our outboard engine's propeller hit bottom, we realized that we were in very shallowwaters and had to go back to where we had started. Just then an irate Hippopotamus with gaping jaws, made its way towards us.I revved the engine and got away in the nick of time from what would have been disaster. I envy you Dr. Adolfo (my chilkdhood playmate) for remaining in our birthplace, where you are a renowned academic, and received plaudits and recognition for several achievements.
