Hoosier Cruiser

March 28, 2026

I know it has been a while since my last post. This post was supposed to be about Madagascar, but I skipped that port because my scheduled excursion was very lackluster (ie, no lemurs) and independent exploration didn’t seem wise. I’m more disappointed than you probably are. So today will be about Mozambique.

Our port here is Maputo, the capital city. On approach, we docked close by a stunning suspension bridge. First a little history: Mozambique is a former Portuguese colony. During the age of exploration, Portugal was the first Western power to establish trading outposts in east Africa and elsewhere in the Indian Ocean. Later, the British and Dutch took control of many of these outposts. Very soon after WWII, when other European nations were granting independence to colonies, Portugal held onto Mozambique until1975.

The tour began with a visit to an historic train station that turned Maputo into a major export hub for many South African countries. The Beaux Arts design is attributed to the firm of Gustav Eiffel. Still in use it also houses a museum. Next we drove to Independence Square where we visited the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and the nearby Tunduru Botanical Gardens. We also paused at the Iron House; originally meant to be the residence of the governor general, its iron construction proved too hot for the tropics.The cathedral was hosting several groups of young students in sacramental preparation. The cathedral has also hosted Popes John Paul II & Francis. Like most Saturdays, the botanical gardens was an active venue for weddings. Our last site was the Maputo Fortress. There was an event going on in the interior which limited exploration, but the site itself was unremarkable.

Starting tomorrow, we will dock at five ports in six days, all in South Africa. I’m not sure if each one will be deserving of its own post.

Next: South Africa