10 Things We Learned In Mozambique.

NB: Sorry it's been so long since a post, but we're still learning about blogger (namely that we need to take smaller pictures so it doesn't take forever to upload). We thought we'd post about Mozambique for now, and update on the rest later on. So, here it is...in pictures, the lessons we learned in Mozambique. (We were there from July 9-July 14).

1. The border is chaos. Crossing it is confusing and takes forever. Don't do what we did and give your passports to a dude who you *think* *might* work there. (luckily it was ok). And, don't think that the border isn't a place that you will get hit on, as P was asked for her number within a one-minute conversation with the gate guard!










2. So THIS is why Avis won't let us take our car into Mozambique! (we did anyways...shhhhh):










3. Mozambiquean police are vigilantes! We got pulled over twice, the first time being the most hilarious. When you see this, going 77km:










you will get this:











and the man who gave that to you will take your driver's license, then make you drive 4km down the road to the "police station" to pay the bill:










bribery doesn't work with the lady "chief":










The 2nd time we got pulled over was just a random "checkpoint" and we were asked to see our orange emergency triangle...luckily we had one or who knows...thanks Avis!!

4. Don't walk alone on the beach at night. Oh, such common advice, right? Well when you don't know the city and trust people when they say the restaurant is 1km away...45 minutes and complete darkness later, you will end up on the beaches of Maputo at night. Next to townships. You'll then need to come to your senses, stop walking, and jump into one of these (a chappa, or local town bus):










with about 20 of your closest local friends, and attempt to communicate where you need to go.

5. Don't drink the local rum in Tofo (a beach town 6hrs from Maputo), even if it is $1.25 at the market for a 20-oz bottle:













all these people did, and look where they were at 4am:










(we did too, and the next day was not our best).

6. You don't use hands to carry things.
























7. Maputo (Mozambique's capital city), despite typical third-world dirtiness, is a gorgeous city:










(train station designed by Gustav Eiffel, of Eiffel tower fame):










8. The workers at Fatima's Backpackers are...nice. They took us to the local fresh market for dinner, and it was delicious!!:










9. Moz is one of the world's largest exporters of cashew nuts. Here is how they are sold locally:










10. Tofo beach is very relaxing...for everyone!:










We'll (try to) post some pictures from our mini-safari in Kruger National Park in the next couple of days. At the very least, we learned a LOT about the bush and will share tidbits. Ciao!