Maputo

After the best part of a day travelling from eSwatini I arrived in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. Maputo is an interesting city consisting of a mix of old Portuguese colonial architecture, old soviet style concrete blocks complete with peeling paint and rusted iron bars, and modern high rise buildings. Much of the centre consists of wide avenues lined with acacia trees, fruit stands and sugar cane juice presses, giving them a uniquely African feel, and are especially beautiful to wander around as the sun dips low.
Maputo has a long history which made it an interesting city to explore. I visited the National Art Museum, the stunning Natural History Museum which had some interesting taxidermy and a collection of elephant foetuses, and the Botanical Gardens complete with fruit bats which I always love to watch. I also did a walking tour which took me to the old Portuguese Fort which the city was built around in the 18th century, and the oldest parts of the city which is now the red light district. We also visited the train station, which is the 3rd most beautiful train station in the world according to someone (can't remember who), the central market, Casa de Ferro - a building made out of iron that was designed by Gustave Eiffel, Maputo Cathedral and city hall, and a statue of the first president of Mozambique - Samora Machel on Praça da Independência. We followed that up by having a local lunch of fish matapa - a sauce made from cassava leaves, and the local beer dois M (2M). Being in an ex-Portuguese colony I also enjoyed being able to find good Pastel de Natas and Sumol!Read more