Our first stop is Mombasa and Fort Jesus. The fort was built in the 15th century by Portugese traders to protect their East Indian trade routes. It changed hands many times in its long and bloody history, and each successive inhabitant-- Portugese, Arab, Swahili, English and others- left their mark on its architecture and lore. It is now restored as an open-air museum, overlooking the Mombasa Hafrbor (leading to the Indian Ocean) and Monbasa's Old Town.