The Island of Mozambique

I'm back in Maputo after a short but sweet holiday with my mum in the Island of Mozambique.

What an amazing place! It is a completely dream like location. Its crystal-clear water makes you feel like you're snorkeling even when you're not, the never ending heat, and vibrant colours every where! Women dressed in capolana (traditional Mozambican fabric) rule the streets, followed by hundreds of ever-smiling children.

Historically, you can't get any richer than this small, 3km long island in the Indian ocean.  Indians, Arabs, Portuguese and Mozambicans have periodically inhabited the island, leaving it with a cultural explosion! It used to be the capital of Mozambique when it was part of the Portuguese empire (hence the fantastic architecture), and there are around 12 mosques on the island (the vast majority of the population is Muslim), 7 churches and a Hindu temple. The locals are accepting of cultures and religion, I even met a few people who were Christian and Muslim at the same time!

        
The island is split in two: stone city and Macuti city. The stone city all in Portuguese architecture, everywhere you go there are grand house, a palace or two and the magnificent hospital. All the buildings are completely falling apart, but there is still such a romantic and beautiful air about it. Macuti city is on a different level (literally), since it was built in the dug-up ground from which the stones for the stone city were taken from. Macuti is where two thirds of the population live, in typical housing of the area, made of palm tree leaves, sticks and mud. Some of the houses are also made out of cement, but they don't let the heat out as well, so I'm not sure is was a great idea...

I fear for the bad development which may happen in the island. Its so small and so delicate in terms of its ecosystem, that if there is any excessive construction, tourism, cruises it'll all go down the drain. Its such a hard problem to face in such a poor country, but they really have to invest in long term plans which will allow for the country to get richer, without losing its natural richness.

Enough chit-chat, here are some pictures I took.