Day 99 At Sea

Today was interesting…. We have gotten into a pretty good swell and the ship is pitching quite a bit. I think a lot of people are in their cabin riding it out. It was nice on the back deck. We did have the swimming pool overflow from time to time as the ship pitched to and fro…. I went in the pool for a wild ride in the waves. Anyway, tomorrow we dock in Maputo, Mozambique as a maiden port of call for Holland America. It will be a bit rustic and their skills for tourism a bit under developed but it should be a nice adventure. Here is my tour description for tomorrow: Maputo Sights
Maputo, formerly known as Lourenco Marques, named after a Portuguese explorer who landed here in 1544, is the capital of Mozambique. Most of the city's infrastructure (and architecture) was destroyed during the nearly thirty years of war that began with the Portuguese independence movement in 1962 and continued after independence in 1975. A peace treaty was signed in 1992 officially bringing the war to an end. Today the city is slowly recreating some of its former glory. The rich and famous are once more hanging out at the five-star Polana Hotel, with its grand view over the harbor, its tea gardens and its old-fashioned Victorian elevator. Upon departing the harbor, you will pass the beautiful rail station—an architectural highlight of Maputo. It was built in 1910 by Gustav Eiffel, of Eiffel Tower fame. You will proceed to the local Maputo market for a glimpse of how the locals barter for a variety of goods and foods. A focal point in the city is the Praca de Independencia or Independence Square. Around it is a bevy of important landmarks—a statue of the country’s first president, Samora Machel; the gleaming white Roman Catholic cathedral; the neoclassical City Hall and the French- Mozambican cultural center—a splendid old colonial building which has been tastefully restored and now presents art exhibitions. You will also have the opportunity to take photos of the weird and wonderful house made entirely out of iron—highly impractical for hot African summers. Finally, take a scenic drive through the up-market Polana area and also drive past the Xiquelene Market, en route to the Natural History Museum which, among other things, contains the only collection of elephant fetuses in the world. After some time to explore the museum, return to the pier. I am including a number of additional photos from my stay in the Maasai Mara