Good Friday is the day Jesus was crucified. Christians all over the world remember this day. This photo was taken in the main cathedral in Maputo, Mozambique in southern Africa. I, Zeb the Duck, was there for this photo July, 2016.
Cathedral in Maputo, Mozambique
Today we will see if Mom can lead us through Maputo. Isaac is no longer with us. First, a taxi to Hotel Terminus to sign up for a tour to Swaziland. Now Mom thinks we can walk along the coast of Maputo Bay and find someplace, with a water view, for lunch. We love seeing these ships on Maputo Bay.
Ships on Maputo Bay
We stop here and admire the view above Maputo Bay.
Beautiful spot to look out to sea.
Isn’t this beautiful. We love to just sit and watch the water. This bird seems to also enjoy watching the water.
Best seat in the area
I believe he has the best seat on the coastline. Small boats are used by fisherman.
Fisherman
Being in a small boat is my idea of a perfect day. This is a really old, original waterfront building in Maputo.
Old building with thatched roof. Zeb on ground under giraffe
A great thatched roof. I, Zeb the Duck, am sitting on the ground by the giraffe. Continuing along the coastline, this pier calls us.
Let’s walk on the pier
Let’s go, Mom. The end of the pier consists of rocks.
Rocks at end of pier and ship on Maputo Bay
Very interesting to this duck. Looking back, we gaze at the waterfront hotels.
Looking back at water front hotels and apartments
Now I see another boat with more fishermen.
Fishermen
This is a little different from what we usually see here. We walk to the Southern Sun Resort. Looks like a good place for lunch, I think. I, Zeb the Duck, have never seen a sandwich with so much inside and even bacon on top of the sandwich.
Love the basket for French Fries. First time with bacon on top of sandwich
During lunch, I really enjoy the view of Maputo Bay.
Great view for lunch
I have been watching this fisherman gathering and moving his nets.
Bringing in fishing nets
This is a very nice pool, but mom says we cannot swim in it because we are not staying here.
Southern Sun Hotel pool
That is fine with me. I want to watch the water. We stroll along the sand for awhile. Mom says it is time to go back to our hotel, but we don’t want to walk back. Our lunch and earlier walk seem to make us have less energy. This man drove us back to our hotel.
He brought us back to our hotel.
He was very nice. While in Maputo we have talked to so many very nice people. We are glad we decided to visit Maputo, Mozambique.
Near our hotel, Isaac shows us the Praça de Independēncia, or Independence Plaza. On one side is Cathedral of Nossa Senhora da Conceiçāo. (Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception)
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
We enter the cathedral and I love the windows.
Beautiful
Each view is spectacular.
Beautiful
Aren’t they beautiful?
Love the windows.
Leaving the cathedral, I, Zeb the Duck, am surprised to see cars parked on part of the sidewalk.
Parking on part of the sidewalk
In front of City Hall we see this statue of Marechal Samora Moises Machel, the first president of the Republic of Mozambique.
First President of the Republic of Mozambique
We like the City Hall building.
City Hall
Isn’t this stone work nice on the sidewalk by City Hall?
Intricate cement work
Maputo was a grand city when it was built by the Portuguese. Inside City Hall, we admired the classic architecture.
Staircase inside City Hall
Love stairs going up each side. Outside we admire the view of Maputo Bay from City Hall.
View of Maputo Bay
Near Independence Plaza we see the Iron House.
Iron House
The Iron House was designed by Eiffel in the late 19th century as the governor’s residence. The house is made entirely from iron. However the iron house was unsuitable for the tropical conditions. The hot building is now used by the Minister of Culture. Nearby we appreciated the Municipal Gardens.
Municipal Gardens
I, Zeb the Duck, am on this tree trunk, but it is so big you can hardly see me.
Large tree trunk. Zeb is on the lower right of the big indented area of the trunk
The flowers are colorful and pretty here.
Colorful flowers
We liked just wandering around the streets of Maputo with Isaac. But I, Zeb the Duck, am worried now. I heard mom say that this was our last day with Isaac. We will walk around on our own for a day. Oh mom, I hope you know what you are doing.
Today Isaac first took us to the fishing museum. We were not allowed to take photos in most areas. But we could take photos of the fish in this large aquarium.
Fish inside tank
We love to watch fish.
Fish inside tank
We enjoyed seeing this fishing boat up close.
Fishing boat
Next Isaac showed us the train station.
Maputo train station
This train station is regarded as one of the most beautiful in the world. Let’s walk here, as if we were waiting for a train.
Let’s look for a train
I am enjoying a rest on this model train engine.
Relaxing on train engine
This is an example of statues to enjoy while waiting for a train.
Statues
Further on our exploration of Maputo we passed this mosque.
Mosque in Maputo
Here is a typical street in downtown Maputo.
Downtown Maputo
Our next stop was a craft market. We did purchase a few necklaces here.
We bought necklaces from him
The display of cloth was colorful.
Colorful
The metal items were nice, also.
Nice metal
And look at this, even the trash cans are decorated.
Almost too pretty for trash
I am happy with Isaac and the places he takes us. We did not see many other tourists in Maputo, and I did not see any other yellow ducks. Maputo is an old Portuguese city and we are enjoying wandering around town. We think you would enjoy Maputo also.
Isaac met us at the hotel entrance and we are going to the fish market today. I, Zeb the Duck, have never been to a fish market. Isaac finds a taxi for us.
Taxi
I like this little one. Driving out of town, I love the painted cement on the side of the road.
Great painting by road
The photo was taken from the taxi, and guess mom got a mirror reflection in the upper right corner. Typical ocean scene here, with a boat, a man to the left watching the water, and a bird flying overhead.
Approaching fish market
Watching the water is so relaxing for ducks and humans. We have arrived at the fish market. Going inside, I see that there are fish of many types, sizes, and colors. Let’s start with shrimp.
Fresh shrimp
Large, fresh shrimp look tempting. But look at these fish.
Colorful fish
The color variation is great, but guess when they are cooked, the color is not important. And the bright blue catches my eye.
Bright blue
So many choices. What to do with these fish? There are many restaurants here.
So many restaurants here
Humans can purchase a fish and the restaurants will cook it as you request. We did not know that. We sat here, ordered grilled fish and waited. Soon the fish arrived. On the left is our taxi driver. On the right Isaac and mom are looking at the fish.
Humans, ready to eat
All humans are ready to eat. We have three whole fish.
The whole fish
And I mean whole fish. At home they don’t bring us the fish heads. But here they are. We see something new every day. Lunch was delicious. I am sitting here with the Indian Ocean behind me.
Beach at fish market
Boats are in the water and a human is walking on the beach. I could sit here for hours. But, we have to go now. Along the road near the fish market, we could buy more fish from this lady.
More fish
Or maybe coconuts from this gentleman?
Coconuts for sale
Very tempting, but we do not have a kitchen in our motel room. I enjoyed this drive along the water. Love the fishing boat.
Fishing boat
Of course palm trees always make my vacation better.
Palm trees
The people of Maputo work very hard, but the atmosphere here is calm today. We hope you visit Maputo and also have a great experience.
I, Zeb the Duck, am in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, in southern Africa. My hotel is nice and centrally located.
Hotel Maputo in Maputo, Mozambique
But, there are no tourist offices, no tourist maps and no tourist information in sight. So, mom and I head out and are greeted by vendors. Persistent, but friendly, vendors. We do not want to shop today, just look around and get oriented. We head downhill, hopefully toward Maputo Bay. Must be a government building?
Government building
This statue is of Marechal Samora Moises Machel, the first president of the Republic of Mozambique.
First president of the Republic of Mozambique
And here are the friendly, persistent vendors. Still no shopping today. We wander a little more, not sure where we are heading and what we are seeing. A park, older homes, and our friendly, persistent vendors. So, mom talks to Isaac, one of the vendors. He is friendly and persistent, and we like him. He agrees to be our tour guide today. This is so much better. I, Zeb the Duck, like Isaac, and he speaks a little English. Mom wasn’t a very good tour guide here. Isaac takes us to The Fort. A short walk and we are here.
The Fort
Inside is a garden and small museum. I love the statues. Here I am on a horse.
Love statues of humans on horses–and a duck
This wagon is great also.
Wagon
This fort was build by the Portuguese in the mid 19th century, near the site of an earlier fort. Portugal colonized Mozambique and the official language is Portuguese. However, like many places in Africa, people speak a few tribal languages first, then learn the official language left by the Europeans. These people speak many languages. Here I am, sitting comfortably with Isaac, our guide, watching me.
Isaac is watching me.
Inside one of the small rooms of the small museum, I rest on the sealed carved wooden coffin of Ngungunhane, the final ruler of the famed kingdom of Gaza.
Wooden coffin
The Kingdom of Gaza, 1824-1895, dominated southeast Africa in what is now southern Mozambique, southeast Zimbabwe, and parts of South Africa. The coffin lid carving is beautiful.
Carved coffin lid
More wonderful carving on these wall panels.
Carvings
More statues with me, Zeb the Duck.
Sculptures
And statues on wall panels.
Sculptures
This fort was well guarded.
Every fort needs canons.
Attacks from the water were always a very real threat. This fort is on Maputo Bay which goes into the Indian Ocean. Leaving The Fort, you can see that Maputo Bay, and the Indian Ocean are right here.
Leaving the Fort, Maputo Bay sparkles in the sun.
Mom and Isaac agree to meet again tomorrow morning at our hotel, and he will show us more of the Maputo area. I am so glad she decided to hire Isaac.
Colorado Traveling Ducks 