Tuesday, March 7. Hazy sky, calming seas. 27 C, hot and muggy. Day 63. By the time you read this, the cruise portion of our trip will be at the half way point.
Another sea day today, preparing to step foot on African soil for the first time since 2020 when We Four flew into Casablanca, Morocco for a land trip of that country. We did not know it at the time, but we were on the cusp of a pandemic that would change the world, forever.
We are docking in Maputo, Mozambique tomorrow morning, [Mozambique is not South Africa, they are separate countries.] The Captain, on his noon report today, told us of a rather Officious Immigration Procedure tomorrow and somewhat less maybe for each of the other five South African ports.
Mozambique has basically been a basket case since before Fellette and I even met, over 62 years ago. It has only in the last several years has the country started to get their act together. It is classed as 'A Third Word Country’, not 'A Developing Country’
It is my understanding that we will have a ‘Face to Face' inspection, Passport-in-Hand, tomorrow morning before being allowed to disembark. Interestingly, there are what is called ‘Overland Tours' departing tomorrow morning as well. These are where passengers leave the ship for two nights, three days, and then rejoin the ship in Durban. These trips cost between U$3600 and U$4300 per person: all are sold out!
My information is that the Pilot Boat, with the Local Pilot, will come on board around 4:00 am tomorrow, along with a few Immigration Officials to start processing those going off on their Expensive African Safaris. The bulk of the Officials will join the ship upon docking. It should be an interesting morning. I imagine we will be up about the time the Pilot comes onboard, around 4:00, I am excited to be in Africa again. We Four are on a short three hour tour at 9:00 am tomorrow. We sail at 6:00 pm.
An endless wake...
No comments:
Post a Comment