A Beautiful Place, A Bitter Unfold

by Lia Rodrigues (Portugal)

A leap into the unknown Mozambique

I was in a relationship with a Mozambican girl. We cared deeply about each other regardless all the un encouraging circumstances around us due to society and religious prejudice. When our relationship were more fragile than ever the opportunity for me to visit her birth country and spend there, with her friends and family, the new year of 2019 became possible in terms of money and time management. I thought maybe she would not want me there because things were bad between us. Instead she encourage me to go, her words were: “I want you to know where I came from, my country, my family, our daily lives. All we lived together was true and you are the first person that I really want to take with me and show everything around.”. I was confused but moved about what she have said so I flied alone to African Continent to land in Mozambique. I stayed for 17 days. We travelled with her friends from Maputo (capital city) until Inhambane district. We catch waves in the hot waters of the Indic Ocean, we saw beautiful landscapes, sunrises and sunsets. Looked like all our problems as a couple disappeared. I was so happy and I could not look at her without a big smile on my face from gratitude and tenderness. For the first time in my life I did snorkeling! I was so high after that experience, It felt like I was on drugs. The bottom of the ocean is so full of vivid colors and different bold shapes, it was magnetic beautiful. I was also mesmerized by the energy and friendly culture from the local natives. In my prejudice I thought that I would be faced with constant fear of being robbed, I couldn’t be more wrong. We also did party a lot, it was the end of the year and the beginning of a new one afterwards. The Mozambique beer is amazing, I came from Portugal so I know what I am talking about. The new year’s evening took place in Barra beach, everyone was dressing white clothes, the weather was hot and the smiles were loose. It was such a powerful feeling! I was far away from my country and family but I never felt more “at home”. Mozambique have amazing paradisiac hot waters beach’s, the sand is very white, you can enjoy some dunes if you like to go up and down. The food is amazing, they have incredible exotic fruits and their cuisine is also very tasteful and spicy. You can’t miss they peanut curry. In the end of this journey I came to acknowledge that I just had stepped foot in the most attractive, warm and beautiful place I ever saw in my life until this day. Unfortunately I was also facing the end of my most meaningful romantic relationship. It left a bittersweet unforgettable taste in my mouth but I would do it all over again if that was possible. I totally recommend Mozambique specially if you know someone who lives there and can show you around all the places, foods and tastes that highlight the best in the country because we can’t forget that Mozambique is a very poor place in the globe with a lot of social differences and difficulties. I point out Inhambane district for beach time, Mafalala neighborhood for cultural and historical purposes and of course you can’t miss an iced 2M (national beer) and some big cooked shrimps and crabs.