November 19, Maputo, Mozambique: Travel in the younger sort, is part of the education; in the elder, a part of Experience”, Francis Bacon

After a few relaxing sea days we pull in to Maputo on a Saturday and stay from 8-5.  It’s a very hot day and they tell us it may climb up to 100 degrees.  We have a tour booked here with Across Africa.  It is a tour of the city with 7 vans of people.  We are to see Ponte Maputo, FEIMA Art and Craft Market, Casa de Ferro, Tunduro Botanical Gardens, Praia da Costa seafood market, Maputo Shopping Center, Restaurante Marina Brasa for lunch then Fortaleza da Senhora de Conceicao, the Natural History Museo, and the arts cultural center. We are to have an English speaking guide.  Now that we have done several Across Africa tours we are never sure of the itinerary, the number of buses or guides or if they speak English.  

Today is a full immigration for us coming and going. Doty, in Mozambique is the capital and largest city.  They are working towards prosperity. The dock is close to the city which has strong Portuguese influence in their food, culture and agriculture; it is really a melting pot.  They have been trying to rebuild and regenerate.  This city has been the capital since 1898. They gained their independence came in 1975.  There about a million people here.  The harbor is important for shipping in and out. The parks and museums are also trying to rebuild.  This area is not a major hub for tourism and sometimes it feels like South America.  Docking locations vary depending on on the size of the ship.  There is a beautiful railway station designed by the same designer of the Eiffel Tower. Independence Square was built in a colonial fashion by the Portuguese. In 1502 they came and built the center of the city and a fort.  The harbor was used for fishing and trade. There were conflicts with local people and the area changed hands between other countries. The area has been influenced by French, British and the English.  You can find local handmade items that are authentically made and you can haggle or bargain. . 

 We had a free shuttle service here. The currency is the MZN and the exchange is $1=64 of their dollars. The official taxis here are yellow roofs.  Portuguese is the official language so you need to ask if you want an English driver.  Actually there are 40 different languages spoken here!!  Don’t expect transportation to meet your expectations. 

A photo from the travel presentation 

The craft market photo.  Baskets are a big thing here 

The museum 

The center of the city 



The historical train station, a beautiful piece of architecture 

Still beautiful doors and windows, tile floors 

Old photo from the train center Siri g the height of its functionality

One of the 10 most beautiful train stations in the world. 

Chuck and Betsy on their way to the Mercado 

Everything you could need is here. 

The Iron House.  We could only see part of it but very distinctive and they were selling handcrafts here’s


This is a coco nut made into a purse with a zipper!!!!

We went to the Botanical Gardens where many weddings were taking place.  It was the weekend and probably 10-12 were happening in various areas of the garden.  Music of all sorts filled the air and e wry one was dressed in their most gorgeous outfits 

They decorate the grooms car with beautiful flowers 

https://vimeo.com/780917066

All the black you see in this photo are huge fruit bats!!!   They were hanging in so many trees.  There had to be a thousand 

More bats 

Look at the boys dressed in the yellow shorts and hats.  

The garden was fairly large but in disrepair.   It’s heavily used.  There weren’t beautiful flowers but mostly trees and bushes. 

The two story museum



Dioramas in the museums 

Full size dioramas 

These are elephant fetuses and this one is three months 

8 months


A few more months older

A stop at another market Feima.  We also had a beer here and shopped a bit.  I found a cute sundress for my grand daughter Zoey here.