Nampula (M 2)

Name: Nampula


Whenever I tell people I am living in Mozambique, they imagine paradise. The picture they have is of white sand beach, palm trees, beautiful warm blue seas and a diet of fresh seafood and ripe juicy fruit. I do allow friends to indulge their fantasy because, truth is, there are parts of Mozambique exactly like that—but not where I live.

Nampula is in the north, far north but not as far as Pemba. It is the third largest city in Mozambique and growing fast. It is also inland, about 150 miles to the nearest beach. This makes it a hot, humid, dusty industrial city. It has palm trees everywhere. I love the mango season, where gardens droop with fruit ready to drop. Most gardens have mango, giant avocado, banana, papaya and coconut trees, but many have been replaced with concrete. The sand is red and found everywhere: it settles on the floors, windows, computer screen, bedspread, and mingles with truck fumes and sunlight to form a yellow haze. But then, this isn’t some refurbished African city with stylized Afro-chic boutiques and fancy fruit cocktails; this is real and far more interesting. Even without the beach and sea and seafood, this place is great, all it takes is some getting used to.

http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/living/articles/living_in_nampula_mozambique.shtml
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