Hotel Cardoso Maputo

... way to pick up on of their local friend and then they drop me off at a junction so I could catch one of the Chapas driving by. A chapa is a very cheap way to get around, it is basically like a bus, expect that it is a minivan and you have one every 30 seconds. We so should have that in Europe to get to work, it would reduce traffic considerably.<br><br>I got had to wait a couple of minutes, under a light rain, because most of them were full and I had 3 different bags. The ...

... northern and southern Europe. Supermarkets are hard to find and sparse when you do, likewise for take-away food outlets, though that's likely a Communist hangover (pun intended), than a Latino thing, which it's NOT. But there IS a pleasant Afro-Latino feel to the place and it DOES feel safer. Those two things are all that I wanted or expected. <br><br>The hostel itself feels like Grand Central station, with human waves passing ...

... the side of the road, bonnet deep mudholes and some major cow dodging, you only make half the distance...and experience double as much. Marvin and I left Malangane in good spirits at about 7am and were in Maputo round 2pm, a trip of about 100km! We were totally buggered after the exhausting drive and decided, that seeing we were on a yet indefinite holiday, there was really no point in rushing. So we parked the Landy in ...

... Phillip wie alom bekend is vir sy v**moë om van besittings op hi**die mani** ontslae te raak. Ek en Dirk sluk ons gelag so halfpad, en in sy rustige stem wond** Dirk of Phillip dit nie net misgekyk het of dalk op die strand, of dalk<br><br>iew**s v**geet het nie? Dit kan mos nie gesteel wees nie? Maar dit<br><br>laat nie Phillip se slegsê van die plaaslike bevolking tot 'n einde<br><br>kom nie.<br><br>Sond** om te aarsel fynkam ons elke bossie om die kamp vir leidrade. Sou dit 'n ...

... the nicer parts of town are in the outskirts. In Maputo, the slums are on the outskirts and the city center is really thriving with tree-lined streets, open air restaurants and bars, sidewalk cafes ... I've never seen this in Africa. Usually restaurants and bars are out of sight behind a big gate. And it was wonderfully warm, and the seafood was just fantastic - huge prawns, crabs, mmm ... Shrimp samosas and crab curries were fast favorites. We took the day off from ...

... empresa, estanpando seu slogan, "estamos juntos" espalhadas por mocambique eh impressionante, nao importa onde estejas, quer queira, quer nao, estaras junto a eles. Ainda na fronteira tambem se percebe a diferenca entre os dois paises. Basta cruzar o limite da Africa do Sul para comecar a ver casas de niveis bem mais precarias. Creio que foi o primeiro contato de algumas pessoas do meu time com esse tipo de realidade. Se para mim existe um impacto em estar por aqui, imagino ...

... Another empty stomach. I went back for some more para-ffin treatment pampering, and then hit Jardim dos Mariscos (Seafood Garden) restaurant around the corner from Joana's for a giant prawn and lobster feast with Carlos. We said our goodbyes, wished each other well, and that's that. Now really. It's over! But I loved today. ABSOLUTELY loved it! For those in Amsterdam, tot snel! For those elsewhere....maybe see you soon too! Besos... home time now. Really! I want home!

Forgive any glitches, inconsistencies of just plain old lack of coherence...that happens after you've been blessed with a best friend who got you accustomed to private jet travel or, if commercial, first or business...so, this was a little "taxing" on Ashling (thanks Nick...I thought of you often....I missed my travel buddy supreme!). "This" being 15 hours in the air, and finding out airline code shares are just a cheeky way of promising you KLM and delivering Air ...

... with another whaleshark and saw 6 humpback whales on the return - but it was all a bit of an 'experience'. So instead of carrying on diving for the rest of our stay we relaxed and sunbathed for about our 2nd time on this trip. We also bartered for some African memorabilia - which we got for "good price" - we actually got rid of our blankets and fleeces - had some drunken nights involving drinking games and we left Mozambique for the delights of our last wildlife destination of Kruger

... to enjoy our stay in Mozambique. The next day, having learned our lesson, we both made sure to carry our passports when we out into the city. Mine was promptly pickpocketed. Luckily, the man who took it from me decided he'd have a hard time passing for me, so he let me know he had it and pretended that he had found it on the ground. I gave him R1.50 (less than 20 cents). He seemed really disappointed, but I can't say I ...