Markets and mozzies
Trip Start
Jul 06, 2003
1
2
15
Trip End
Jul 20, 2003
Maputo, Mozambique
Monday, July 7, 2003
I reckon that is why it took so long at the border - all the important figures in African politics are going to be here.
I got chatting to a really nice guy from Ireland. Ruadhan is on this amazing trip - he started in Ireland and busked/hitchhiked through Europe and then did Cairo to Cape Town. He's now on his way back up.
We pretty much talked all day - it's nice to have a different kind of conversation to the ones I have in Kids Haven.
Maputo is a great place - reminding me of Portugal one second, and The Gambia the next. I guess that makes sense, since it is African whilst retaining some Portuguese aspects. Not that it is 'West African' but The Gambia is the only point of reference I have.
Also, it's on the coast, by a huge bay. I climbed on to the roof of the Backpackers - around a wall, across broken glass and up a rusty ladder - to get a picture of the bay. It really is beautiful in the sunshine.
Ruadhan and I went for a wander. Sure I still kept my wits about me, but the tension just isn't here like in SA. It's such a nice change. We headed down to a local market - I got a pineapple and some bottled water. It's hard to remember not to drink the tap water.
Then on to the train station - once a lovely building I should imagine - to see if Ruadhan can get a train to Harare in Zimbabwe. The guy there was as helpful as he could be, but didn't have any info about the train once it got past the Mozambique border. Instead Ruadhan is coming north with me and then continuing up either to Zim or Zambia, or Malawi. He passed through Malawi on his way down and loved it. I don't want to think about going back to Jo'burg and missing out on all that Africa up there...
The Backpackers has provided us with a map of Maputo showing the 'no-go' areas. Other that that we were free to wander. We found a nice bakery place, and I ate my pineapple (most of it, it was huge and gave me 'furry tongue').
In the early evening we went out again - there isn't much to do in the Backpackers - which was an absolute treat for me. Walking around at night?! We went right this time, and this took us to the main street with the nicer hotels. We walked right past where the African leaders are/will be staying. We suggested that one of us keep watch and the other sneak in and assassinate Mugabe. Might solve some problems huh? We just kept walking.
At one point we tried to get down to the waters edge, but this involved a set of dark stairs. We both took two steps forward and were like, "Nahhh, lets go back." Just didn't feel right at all.
I'm a bit worried about getting ill - I was right yesterday when I said something was brewing. This morning I woke with a sore throat. And this evening I have a splitting headache. Typical. I guess the bad couple of weeks at Kids Haven have taken their toll - I was running on frustration and adrenaline, and now I've relaxed I'm getting ill. The worst thing is that paracetamol seems to have no effect on the headache. I took some at 6 and still had it when I crawled into bed at 9.30. At least I have an actual bed tonight.
I wrote some of my diary and was amused to find I had to think briefly how to write a £ sign. Also, when I'm doing conversions with the Mozambique meticais (pronounced 'meta-caysh') to get to £ I have to go via SA rand!
