While mzungus (foreigners) in Arusha can usually be found in or around their hotels, a walk across the city revealed to me where they also tend to hang out: the strip mall. Of course, Arusha’s strip mall is quite different from what I’m used to, there is no doubt that finding a place to eat there was a lot easier for us mzungus. I opted for a place called Empire Sports Bar which is a great place to watch sports while betting on sites like rolet online.

I should also point out here that I didn’t find one McDonald’s in Tanzania and my guide on Kilimanjaro had no idea what McDonald’s was. I am not a McDonald’s fan, but have to admit I had a craving for a burger that ordinarily could have been satisfied by fast food. Instead, I threw my cards in with Empire Sports Bar and hoped for the best.

I started out with a Safari Beer because although I didn’t go on a safari, I was curious what it would taste like. It tasted good, especially after a long walk across a dirty city. I’m sure it is meant more for long drives across pristine savanna, but I take what I can get.

For my meal, I ordered the Bacon Cheeseburger, and although I rarely do this abroad for fear of ruining a dish, I got it without onions. It didn’t mention any other veggies, so I figured I was safe. It also came with a side of fries/chips. When it arrived, my desire to avoid onions was squashed and I found it had also been loaded with other veggies. But I was in Tanzania, so I let it slide. And it looked delicious otherwise, until I bit into it. At that moment I wasn’t sure if I was eating sawdust colored brown and lumped into patty form or actual beef. Seriously, it was so dry and flavorless.

I tried improving the burger with a combination of Tanzanian ketchup and chili sauce, but it was to no avail. The burger was a loss and no matter how good the cheese, bacon or fries were, there was no saving the core of the meal.

Which is sad, because this was not a meal catering to locals, in which case I would have given Empire Sports Bar a break. No, this was a meal catering to mzungus like me and in that regard it sadly failed.

While I never felt unsafe in Arusha, I was told it wasn’t the kind of city to walk around in at night. This proved to be difficult when it came to dinner, because I was staying in a hotel on the outskirts of the city. This meant my eating options were limited if I wanted to avoid getting mugged (which I’m still not sure was an actual possibility). Yet, there were a couple restaurants near my hotel that catered to foreigners like myself. The prices were steeper than the local places in the city, but you can’t put a price on safety. Or something like that. On my first night in Arusha, I opted for The Blue Heron.

This place had an awesome garden area with cozy table and chair covers to sit at and a wood-fired oven for cooking up pizzas. I wasn’t in a rush, so I started things off with an ice cold Serengeti Beer. As I sipped away, I logged into their wireless internet and just took in The Blue Heron’s comfortable atmosphere. As I looked at the menu, I realized the prices were not simply for the food, but for the setting as well. I’m normally against this, but after climbing a mountain and spending a couple of days in the hustle bustle of Moshi and Arusha, simply chilling out was very welcome.

I ended up ordering their margherita pizza, which was a vast improvement from the pizza I had tackled at The Coffee Shop. The cheese had been nicely melted and the sauce and basil flavoring were immediately welcome on my tongue. The crust was still well-short of being great, but honestly beggars can’t be choosers. I was eating good pizza. In Tanzania. And it made me happy.

I ate my pizza slowly, not simply to enjoy its goodness, but also to take in the atmosphere of The Blue Heron. I considered ordering another beer to extend my stay, but I didn’t want to push my luck with the dangers of Arusha too late into the evening. I still don’t understand how it could get dangerous in a place that felt so safe during the day, but at least those supposed dangers led me to some decent pizza near my hotel.