Why I had to have 8 spare passport pages...

I'm feeling very rejuvinated from a much-needed long weekend; a 3 day trip to Mozambique for Deyo's birthday. We scooted off on Thursday evening, picking up a couple of passport stamps as we swept through our first border in to Swaziland. A stay over on a lovely farm (run by a fascinating couple who run it as a working farm, B&B and operate a cataract service as well, with their own landing strip. We'll be back sometime to learn more about them!) and then on to Mozam on the Friday. At the border we learnt about Mozambiquan patience; half an hour of negociations with various officials and payments of a variety of taxes and we got a page and a half of pretty stamps and entry to the country. First impressions were that it was very similar to South Africa, which it is in many ways. But it also very much has it's own laid-back mediterranean approach to life, as seen from the border crossing and also from our various experiences in restaurants and bars;

"Do you do cocktails?"
"Just caiparinhas"
"Oh, our favourite, 2 of those please"
...10 mins later...
"We have no limes, just lemons"
"That's fine"
...20 mins later...
"We've got no cachaca, just vodka"

But despite the lack of caiparinahs in that bar (made up for with many in others) we had an excellent weekend, enjoying the laid back atmosphere, Portugese-style hospitality, amazing jazz and eating more than our own body weights in fresh seafood. We also brought back more 'havanias' (see what they've done there?) flip flops than any two girls could possibly need and a selection of the amazing seafood to enjoy at our leisure in Ingwa this week.