Out of Africa - Part IV: Ilha de Mozambique

Ilha de Mozambique is the place where the fist European building in Africa stands (dated back in 1522), where Vasco de Gamacame to when circling the planet, where slaves have been traded for centuries, and is now a Wold's Heritage Site of Unseco. The colonial history is omnipresent in the architecture.

The children are, as usually, endearing and sweet...

This is the Portuguese fortress that has been used since the middle of the 16th century. Today, our friend Francisco (met through Isabel) tries to give this gem back its historical shine.












Unfortunately it was rain season so we did not have to possibility to dive - at least not this time. We enjoyed the place nontheless and warmly recommend it !

Good bye Ilha, good bye Mozambique, good bye Africa. Ate' logo !

Out of Africa - Part III: Niassa

Paradise found!

In the north-east of Mozambique lies the province of Niassa. In its north-east corner, at the bordet with Tanzania and Malawi lies the lake Niassa, also known as lake Malawi. Home to 560 fish species (350 of them known only in this lake), crocodiles and innumerable birds, we found our own little paradise: the Nkwichi eco-lodge with 7 isolated bungalows and due to the season, we were the only guests! Our programme: rest, sailing, rest, snorkeling, rest, cayaking, rest, walk in the surrounding area, rest, sundowner drinks on the beach with the owner Richard, his parents, and the manager Simon with his wife. You can indeed have a very sophisticated life in Africa ! We felt like Adam & Eve and hope to be able to go back there some day.

Out of Africa - Part II: Kruger Park

With Ze Luis, his wife Lena and one of their daughters Rita, we spent 4 days in Kruger Park in South Africa. It was absolutely incredible to sleep almost amidst wide animals, to see them live free and especially to go for a morning walk (between 5 and 8 am) in the bush along with two heavily armed rangers. We did not quite spot the Big 5 but most of them and other rare animals: elephants, giraffes, a leopard, rhinos, hippos, hyenes, wild dogs, zebras, monkeys, kudus, impalas, waterbucks, cliffspringers, and even a black mamba! It feels like being in the Garden Eden and you feel really really modest when you walk in the middle of the bush. Our rangers Pete and Lourens taught us to read prints and signs in the nature and after that, we were almost ready to open our farm in Africa. An incredible experience thanks to Ze Luis and Lena.

Out of Africa - Part I: Maputo

Our honeymoon, our trip to Africa - an my idscovery of the continent - started in Maputo, a nice, luscious and tranquil city in southern Africa. We were warmly welcome by Isabel (who studied with Miguel in Lisbon) and stayed in her magnificent flat facing the Maputo bay. We spent a wonderful week, going back to the house where Miguel grew up as a child and other traces of the family.

Go Schuss !

Researchers are smart: they organise conferences in Corfu in May (see post May 2007) and in Chamonix in January. Well done! Therefore we discovered les Grandes Montets (between 1235 and 3300m) under blue sky and powder snow. The researchers researched and proved once again that they can also have a lot of fun. Next conference in Lech?!

But from there, we took off for yet another adventure...