"Maputo will teach you about saudade" Maputo by cochinjew

Maputo Travel Guide: 331 reviews and 952 photos

It is the Afro latin thing..

Arrived in Maputo from Ciudad Del Cabo via JNB airport. The first impression of the people here: friendly, innocence radiating out of their faces and not so obese..
Apartheid in SA must have been so horrible fpr tje scars on the souls of the african blacks, indians and coloureds are visible in their looks of shame, ways of walking and innate suspiciousness..
Young men and women, young boys and girls, mothers with children strapped on their back, are walking along the stgreet.. while in Cape Town one sees groups of black youth, standing idly at corners and eyeing you suspiciously...
Mozambican blacks are so much like brasilians or cubans, slightly flirtish, walking with their heads high, with a sense of harmony with the earth they walk upon.

English Vs Portuguese
Protestant vs Catholic
Strict slavery and isolation (English) vs conjugal pairing ( cuba, brasil)
You take sides and think about it...

In the morning you are ina rich city where the ambience of fear rules and in the same evening you are in a poor third world city- but with less fear, more self confidence and people here are better looking than those in south africa...
Lovely to see that all the major streets are named after revolutionaries
MARX ENGELS LENIN MACHEL MONDLANE MAOTSETUNG HO CHI MINH
is there a Fidel Castro Street? but Fidel does not go for such things even in cuba.. I asked my friend luizinho, is there a fidel castro street, he scratched his head, no, not yet..
Che Guevera? No..
I have to look into that.. nuestra querida comandante che.. he deserves to nestle among these greats in the streets of maputo in mozamibique...

Pros and Cons

Pros:Maputo will linger with you...
Cons:Too many AID workers with mobile phones
In a nutshell:Go now before the innocence is lost.. which I doubt it

Last visit to Maputo: Jun 2003
Intro Updated Jun 9, 2003
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Reviews (16)

Internet Connections in Maputo Favorites (6)

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ATM machines Favorites (6)

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the asian giants Favorites (6)

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all the big boys are here Favorites (6)

streets are named after grand revolutionaries.. more travel advice

Shopping (1)
streets as shopping centres
Hotels (2)
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Restaurants (7)
See All peri peri chicken at nandos
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Written Jun 18, 2003

8 photos

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Comments (4)

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kenHuocj Sep 8, 2005 at 7:10 PM

Ah Nostalia, it's been so long since last visit;-)))
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Pelourinho Nov 8, 2003 at 8:25 AM

Your observations are always refreshing! When are you going to the DRC?
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vesna04 Sep 3, 2003 at 8:09 AM

good perspective, thanks
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irisbe Jun 17, 2003 at 3:33 PM

We all live on the same earth with the same rights, but too often we need others to remind us! I love that little guesthouse, more likely my style then the hotel!