Praia do Tofinho=Improved Health

I really wasn't sure how this past weekend was going to go. We were scheduled to fly to Inhambane on route to Tofo and Tofinho beach around noon on Friday and the tickets weren't refundable. I woke up Friday morning actually worse than the day before. After coughing up what appeared to be blood and having really bad lower back pain, I decided a stop at the Embassy Health Unit was in order. I got there early and after about an hour of sitting with a very nice (and retired) doctor, I got some zithromax and codeine cough syrup. (I do believe, though, the doctor was trying to get me to go home and make my own cough syrup with alcohol and sugar...to which I kind of looked at him like he was crazy--haven't made an elixir since pharmacy school and have no intentions of doing it again anytime soon). Anyway, it may have been viral, but there was a small chance I was developing bacterial pneumonia and neither one of us wanted to risk me getting worse, so I got the zithromax. This isn't the place to try out the health system and since I was going somewhere with even less civilized medicine, I took my zithromax immediately and hoped for the best. I had already resorted to the fact that diving was not going to happen for me this weekend due to this little bug that I had picked up. :-( I also hoped Mozambique was not taking the Chinese approach to swine flu. I had joked to Christine that if we were in China, I would have been quarantined at the airport and never even allowed near a plane.

After the flight, which appeared to be delayed because the President or some other VIP needed to land at the airport, and a lovely ride through the countryside, we arrived at our home for the next two nights. We were staying at Cafe no Mar at Tofhino Beach. It only has 5 rooms and Christine and I were the only guests they had on Friday evening. It was really nice getting the personal attention from the two guys (Casper and Hine--pictured at the end of this entry) that are running the place. We had a lovely dinner in Tofo, but I must say I was feeling quite awful by the end of it.

I went back to my room, chugged some cough syrup and probably was asleep before 9 pm. Next morning, I felt better and actually had some color back in my face. The breakfast was lovely. This was the view from our little "cottage."

The marine life was amazing. We could see dolphins and whales from shore. Christine and I took a walk along the beach from Tofinho to Tofo..stopping to marvel at all of the different marine wildlife and the beautiful colors of the ocean, along with the wind and kite surfers.

Later, we went on a horseback ride along the beach and through the country side. I must say, at first, I was not liking this. I had never been on a horse before and they give you like ZERO instruction on what to do. Then they take you up and down a hill right away. Luckily, our guide, Alfredo, took ahold of my horse (Riverdancer) and led us along, because he could see I was a bit worried. It actually turned into a lovely ride. We got to go through the country side and see all of the little villages. The coconut, cashew nut, and mango trees were really beautiful, too.

Then we stopped to watch the sunset before grabbing a drink at one of the local beach hangouts before dinner. Again, was feeling better, but not great...so I went back to my room, chugged more cough syrup, and was asleep pretty early again.

We got up early on Sunday to watch the sunrise. I took a walk looking for whales before breakfast, but had no real luck. We were able to see them during breakfast, though.

After another quick walk along the beach, we had to head off for the airport. :-( Hine and Casper gave us a little personal tour of Inhambane before sending us off back to Maputo. The city is definitely forgotten and it is such a shame. Some of the old buildings are very beautiful, but time has definitely taken its tool on them.

For everyone back at FDA that may be wondering how work is playing into my little adventure..don't worry...I am still working...in fact, i will be working extra in the coming weeks to get caught up on the time I was sick last week. I am now way behind on everything that I have to get done here.

I keep thinking through out this trip that Mozambique has two faces. It has beautiful scenery, beaches, wildlife, and people (EVERYONE in Tofo and Tofinho were extremely nice and we felt safer there than in Maputo), but then simple things are just not taken care of...like the garbage in the streets or basic up keep of sewage systems, buildings, and roads. Everyone keeps telling us that before the war and before the Portuguese left, the country was amazing. I believe someone even said Tofo was once one of the Top 5 beaches in the world at one point. Maybe one day, Mozambique will somehow regain this glory. It seems more and more travelers are starting to take notice of the country for its beaches and amazing dive sites, so I think there is hope.

Sorry, for my side bar...but it was a lovely weekend, even though we weren't able to go snorkeling with the whale sharks like I had hoped. We would not have made it back on time on Sunday for our flight and the water was a little rough for snorkeling on Saturday. It is probably for the best for me (but not for Christine), as I probably shouldn't have been near water yet. I have vowed to go back before I leave Mozambique, so that I can dive Manta Reef and see the infamous whale sharks. God love Hine, Casper, and Christine for putting up with me and my sickness all weekend. It could not have been fun hanging out with a girl who sounded like she smoked a pack of cigarettes every day for the last 30 years. There must be some sort of magic healing powers of Tofo, because I feel a million times better today...or maybe it was just the zithromax doing its job. (Being a pharmacist, I guess I would have to say my improved health is due to the power of modern medicine).