Author: Caroline Bach

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The battle

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I’ve been in this city, with all its music, contrasts, fresh fruit, cracked pavements, boa gente, exciting career opportunities, stark sun, dancing, pollen, colours kindness, activism and ridiculously unequal distribution of assets for five months now. I have been meaning to pack my backpack and return to Europe with my mind full of the experience a couple of times now, but Maputo and Mozambique inspires and convinces to continue here, on site. We’ll see what kind of surprises this week decides to bring, and then I might finally know. A luta continua.

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Daytrip to Catembe

Took the 0.10€, 20 minute boat to Catembe last weekend to take a look at what could be found on the other side of this thin stripe of sea. The crowded boatride and the place gave us a beautiful view of our dear Maputo, which has the skyline of a bustling and continuously growing city. There was not much else on site except something that looked like a cemetery for old boats, a vegetable market, and a lady selling the most beautiful capulana fabrics I’ve seen so far. I bought two. I also danced a little with a beautiful girl in the market, because as everywhere else – there’s always good music around here! And after crossing the water to get back to Maputo again, we went to the market next to the fortress where I bought my first capulana dress.

A daytrip to Catembe is simple and nice. Nothing extraordinary, but with friendly and welcoming people – as usual here in Mozambique. And that’s all I was looking for. That and photo opportunities.

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Sweat, bellies and joy

Last evening, I found myself in the midst of a belly shaking, sweat dripping and energy sprawling cocktail of joy and traditional music from Beira, Mozambique. We danced, sang along and laughed as Djaaka gave us a great show at Teatro Avenida here in Maputo. The girls I went with are both originally from Beira, so I had some of the lyrics translated for me as they were mostly in Sena language. All in all, it was a great show.

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Oranges

The season for oranges is still here and their vivid colour that is scattered all over makes my mouth water. Here in Maputo, one kilo of oranges is 1€ from the lady on the street. I took these photos from the bus on the road to Inhambane. Whenever we stopped, ladies and children would approach us through the windows with fresh fruit, cookies and drinks. Very hard to resist.

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Ava & Zacka

Here’s what I’m currently up to. These two are top notch entertainment machines. Sometimes, however, I end up being the one entertaining and then it’s good fun to try to remember stuff I used to love myself as a kid, such as the “connect the dots” game. Best thing ever. “It’s a snail!” Hell yeah it is!

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Kitsch and Religion

The Roman Catholic cathedral here in Maputo always gives me the giggles. Formally named the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception or Catedral de Nossa Senhora da Imaculada Conceição, it is a beautiful and quite impressive white building, crowned by a green and glowing neon cross.

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Story of my life

If I’m not standing in an obviously posed position with a stupid smile, this is what photos of me look like. The very few there are, I mean. Because when you’re the photographer among people who couldn’t care less about photography, you either have to beg them to take a photo – resulting in the first option that ends up being too posed and useless anyway, or just use mirrors, which makes the photo kind of douchebaggy and egocentric. So then, when I’m somewhere and take my camera out, people are reminded that a photo could be nice, and this is what comes out of it. So when photos obviously play a very important role in helping me to remember beautiful moments, this is one of my little dilemmas – because I’m never in them. And if I am, there’s usually a camera in my face. Or maybe that’s just how very attached I am to it. Yeah, that’s probably it.