Mozambique and the ride home

Mozambique became an independent country (they were under Portugal)
just a few years ago.  It actually felt safer than South Africa, but we
were told we were just lucky.  Most people are stopped by the police
and have to pay a bribe to continue on.  In Joburg everything is closed and
all are off the streets by 9:00.  Not so in Maputo.  The night life was much
more evident.  We even went for pizza at a local restaurant which was
excellent by the way.

The streets are lined with produce and things to sell.  No white people
anywhere.

Now for the adventure ride home.  We stayed at the animal park too long waiting
for the elephants, which never showed, so we had to travel after dark.
Big mistake!  It was a two-lane road and extremely narrow.  At one point a Combie
(that is a mini-bus that they use as taxis.  The drivers are insane.  I call them
Kamikazis not Combis.)  Anyway, one driver actually forced us off the road.
There was no shoulder so thank goodness Grandpa used to drive on the ditch banks
when he was a kid because he kept the car from rolling.  Then not 10 minutes later
we came up over a rise and there was a huge cow right in our lane of traffic.  Grandpa
slammed on the brakes and we slowed just nose to nose with the stupid cow.  It didn't
even flinch.  We were so grateful when we made it to Swaziland and seriously said
a heart-felt prayer of thanks.