Maputo
(written 09/26) We spent today exploring Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. We started along the coastline, where I caught this photo. (Nothing much to say about it in terms of commentary…other than ‘cool scene, eh?’)
Architecture: You can certainly see Maputo’s history written in its architecture:
But when I wasn't looking up at the buildings, I found Maputo is anything but frozen. It is CHAOTIC--an overwhelming blur of activity and noise... and some parts I found to be downright intimidating. I would definitely not travel here solo!
In the end we didn’t really spend enough time in Maputo. The pace of this tour is a bit too fast. But it’s the only way I can conceive of traveling in Mozambique. Formal public transportation isn’t of the Greyhound variety here. These pictures show the 'official' public transportation in Mozambique. I like experiencing the real, authentic way people travel in a country, but for short stints…not for long distances, and certainly not alone.
Our Group
At some point during our day in Maputo we did take a ‘wee break’ [in the super-frequently-uttered words of fellow traveler Garreth] at a nice café in an upscale area. Here’s Laura (Scotland), Kate (Australia), and Garreth (No Ireland) at the café:
We’ve got a great group on this trip, with a good mix of ages and nationalities. We have a mother and daughter from Australia. A family of four from Australia. A young couple from Ireland (he) and Scotland (she). Two twenty-something friends from London. Two thirty-something friends from Austria. A retired couple from Scotland. My roommate from Brooklyn. And me.
Everyone gets along swimmingly, and we have logged countless hours discussing all manner of topics over dinner. And those new friendships are such a fun part of international travel!
Architecture: You can certainly see Maputo’s history written in its architecture:
- Remnants of the colonial period (when this area was called “Portuguese West Africa”)
- Decaying Art Deco splendor (including the hotel we stayed at--Costa do Sol--which I thought was fascinating but most everyone I am traveling with hated. It had a real Cuba vibe--a feeling of decaying splendor, of being somewhere that was once opulent and trendy but has since fallen out of fashion and into disrepair)
- Countless 1970s buildings, the last era of progress before Mozambique's devastating civil war. Mozambique is now emerging from the chaotic aftermath of the civil war, but its capital city is still in an architectural time warp. [I happen to really dig mid- century architecture.]
But when I wasn't looking up at the buildings, I found Maputo is anything but frozen. It is CHAOTIC--an overwhelming blur of activity and noise... and some parts I found to be downright intimidating. I would definitely not travel here solo!
In the end we didn’t really spend enough time in Maputo. The pace of this tour is a bit too fast. But it’s the only way I can conceive of traveling in Mozambique. Formal public transportation isn’t of the Greyhound variety here. These pictures show the 'official' public transportation in Mozambique. I like experiencing the real, authentic way people travel in a country, but for short stints…not for long distances, and certainly not alone.
At some point during our day in Maputo we did take a ‘wee break’ [in the super-frequently-uttered words of fellow traveler Garreth] at a nice café in an upscale area. Here’s Laura (Scotland), Kate (Australia), and Garreth (No Ireland) at the café:
We’ve got a great group on this trip, with a good mix of ages and nationalities. We have a mother and daughter from Australia. A family of four from Australia. A young couple from Ireland (he) and Scotland (she). Two twenty-something friends from London. Two thirty-something friends from Austria. A retired couple from Scotland. My roommate from Brooklyn. And me.
Everyone gets along swimmingly, and we have logged countless hours discussing all manner of topics over dinner. And those new friendships are such a fun part of international travel!