1. The mixed-race mulattos (descendants of Portuguese colonial settlers and locals) have lovely coffee-colored skin. Both them and the blacks are mostly elegant in their appearance and have beautiful facial features.
2. I very much enjoyed the Maputo fish market (my fellow travelers did not share the feeling)
3. Wood carvings from the north of the country – they are far more imaginative and original than this kind of souvenirs elsewhere in Africa
4. I had the best curry prawn in my life in Maputo as a houseguest
5. The almost empty Tofo Beach in Inhambane province (looks like Goa but without the crowd)
6. Locals are far friendlier to tourists than anywhere else in Africa – the kids love playing with them
7. Snorkeling sites on the San Sebastian Peninsula, watching dolphins and harmless whale sharks
8. The colorful, skirt-like covers on the women – each one seems to be one-of-a-kind
9. The women carrying all kind of things on their head without holding them with their hands (bona fide jugglers)
10. The boat safari trip to Bazaruto island - that place is lovely!
Maputo - Downtown - Unrestored, abandoned classic houses from the Portuguese colonial time when the city was called Lourenço Marques - p.t. photo
1. Worrying about the possible side effects of my malaria pills
2. The public roads are in terrible condition (pot-holes, slippery traces of tires in the sand) – we had to spend way too much time on transfers
3. A lot of slums in Maputo, the whole country is impoverished
4. Underdeveloped tourist infrastructure, except Maputo and Barra
5. It was impossible to swim in the ocean because of the huge waves on the beaches as there is no protected bay area
6. Few people speak English
7. When entering Mozambique on land, a lot of people (including officials) tried to bully us into paying for services we hadn’t asked for
8. The terrible driving habits and frequent traffic jams in Maputo
9. Trash and dirt everywhere
10. Lousy street lighting
