Saturday, March 5, 2022 – Photo of the Day – Maputo, Mozambique

SATURDAY, 5 MARCH 2022 MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE Arrival: 6:00 AM All Aboard: 5: 30PM Departure: 6:00 PM
TODAY’S WEATHER Partly Cloudy High: 86°F 30°C Low: 73°F 23°C
DRESS CODE: CASUAL
For Ladies: DRESSES OR BLOUSES AND PANTS
For Gentlemen: SPORT SHIRTS AND SLACKS
No shorts or flip flop type footwear after 6:00 PM in indoor venues

MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE THE CITY OF ACACIAS
Maputo is not known for being the capital of Mozambique, but also for the buzzing vitality that is unfound elsewhere in Africa. The end of 15 years of civil war in 1992 saw an economic uprising and visitors to Maputo today are just as likely to come for the busy bars and restaurants as they are to enjoy colonial architecture worthy of the Mediterranean.
Maputo is different from other cities in the region. It’s magical. There is a storybook quality to the city, an almost palpable belief that someday Maputo will be recognized as the leading city it is. And nothing – not the floods nor the drought that plagues so
many other parts of Africa will be able to stop it. Glimpses of this self-confidence are everywhere, from the lively music that spills out onto the street to the eccentric belief that building a cast iron house in Africa was a good idea.

Head for the town square to see the latter for yourself. Formerly known as Lourenco Marques, the city was named after a Portuguese explorer who landed here in 1544. Most of the city’s infrastructure (and architecture) was destroyed
during the war years, but thankfully a few must-see places remain. The train station – often incorrectly attributed to Gustave Eiffel, is one of the world’s most beautiful buildings, a large-domed, green and white steel structure that would look more at home in Lisbon.
The gleaming white Roman Catholic cathedral, the neo-classical City Hall, and the French-Mozambican cultural center are all also top of sightseer lists.
RAILWAY STATION
An architectural highlight of Maputo, the Railway Station was built during 1908-10 and designed by engineer Alfredo Augusto de Lima. The remarkable bronze dome, created especially for this building, was constructed in South Africa and its assembly was an innovation for that time.

SIGHTS
• Railway Station
• White Roman Catholic Cathedral
• City Hall
• Museum of Natural History
• Malangatana’s house
• Maputo Fort

Maputo City Orientation
Departing the harbor, passing the beautiful Train Station which, built-in 1910 by Gustav Eiffel, of Eiffel Tower fame, is definitely an architectural highlight of Maputo. We then proceed to the local Maputo market for a glimpse of how the locals barter for a variety of goods and foods. Independence Square is a focal point in the city is the Praca de Independencia or Independence Square. Around it are a statue of the country’s first president, Samora Machel, the gleaming white Roman Catholic cathedral, the neo-classical City Hall, and the French-Mozambican cultural center, a splendid old colonial building that has been tastefully restored and now presents art exhibitions. You also saw a house made entirely out of iron – very impractical for the hot African summers.

The Museum of Natural History has a wide range of African wild animal life, many of which are staged showing the hunting and killing of prey by predators. The museum is famous for housing the only elephant fetus in the world amongst a host of other interesting artifacts.

Next, we visited Maputo Fort, one of the most visited attractions in the city. It was originally built in 1721 and destroyed and rebuilt by local people. Our visit looked into the past, reliving old stories of corsairs and sailors.

Today’s Schedule

5:30 All aboard! Silver Whisper prepares to sail
5:45 Sail away cocktails! Music by Cocktail Pianist Alex
6:00 Silver Whisper sails for Zanzibar, Tanzania
6:45 Pre-Dinner Showtime: “Virtuoso Baritone” with Giovanni Palminteri
“Virtuoso Baritone” is a brand new show conceived by our Baritone Giovanni Palminteri with music arranged by the Italian director of the Orchestra Maestro Vaccaro. It took us on a musical journey featuring pieces by various composers such as Carll Off, Ennio Morricone, Albinoni, Carmina Burana, and many more.
9:30 Big Screen Movie: “Promising Young Woman”
Director: Emerald Fennell; Stars: Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Clancy Brown, Jennifer Coolidge, Laverne Cox, Connie Britton