Weather – 26º, very overcast, so overcast that it
looked like a cloudy winter day in Calgary, the haze burned off around 11, apparently
the weather is like this every day
Steps – 5,302
Humidity – 76%
Country #96!
I’m not sure I could have pointed to Angola on
a map before planning this vacation, or even known it was in Africa. I know
now.
Angola (pop: 37 mil) is a former Portuguese colony
(gained independence in 1975), so the main language is Portuguese, it is the
second largest Portuguese speaking country, second is Brazil. Angola is Africa’s
second largest oil producer, first is Nigeria. Our tour today is of the capital
city, Luanda – pop: 10 mil..svg.png)
today's geography lesson
a local woman
Yesterday, we received a letter from the ship, encouraging us to temper our expectations. We already had, having been to underdeveloped parts of the world before, but I can’t actually remember getting a letter to this effect. I was ready…Luanda pleasantly surprised me.
The first thing I was pleasantly surprised by was
the bus. It was a small coach type bus with working mic and AC! We were told
specifically to NOT expect
welcoming committee
these, so I was delighted. Chris and I were both
able to have our own seats, due to the bus not being too full – another pleasant
surprise.
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| kids' basketball team |
Our tour today was titled: “Panoramic Luanda” –
translation…mostly on the bus with a few photo stops…this is exactly what it
was. Luanda has little for tourist infrastructure, so there weren’t many options
for tours. Panoramic tours are very good for getting a taste of a place.
Church of Our Lady of
Nazareth
Even
just driving the streets is super interesting – you get to see locals going
about their daily lives.
The other tour options were ‘beach break’ which
would actually have been an opportunity for some local beer and snacks (which
we sadly didn’t get a chance for), but having never been here before, we wanted
a glimpse of the city.
Our first stop was at the Church of Our Lady of
Nazareth, a 17th-century colonial building decorated with Portuguese tiles - 93%
of Angolans are Christian. 6 busses of about 25 people (the vast majority being
old while people – just to paint a picture) flooded the sidewalk of a busy Luanda
street. Although there were traffic lights, they didn’t appear to be working. Tourist
handlers 
dancers
stopped traffic so the sea of us could cross to the other side where
the church was.
street sculpture
Our group followed behind Carlos Vegas, our guide. Once at the church, we all wandered in, took some photos and streamed out. Chris and I sat inside the small church for a bit of chill time.
Outside the church was a group of women under a
tree, singing and worshiping. I’m not sure why exactly they weren’t actually IN
the church, but if I were them, I’d have been outside too – inside was hotter,
outside was pleasant, maybe the reason is as simple as that. We’ve seen groups
of women in other African places, kind of doing the same thing.
Almost the most interesting thing at the church
were a group of 4 shoe-shining 10-year-old boys. They weren’t allowed into the
church grounds, so they weren’t 
bank of Angola
at all a bother, but were pretty interested in
the gaggle of us from the other side of an iron fence.
monument to the fallen
Driving through Luanda, we saw the modern and renovated
colonial buildings – a sign, we are told, of the city’s revival, due to Angola’s
oil and diamond resources. Along our drive we see slums, in one specific area
of the beach. Carlos tells us that these people are being moved to make way for
hotels. I can see why right along the beach, but the people…
Luanda’s San Miguel Fort is our next stop. Here
we get a bit off track…to say the least. Carlos seems to know his stuff, isn’t just
winging it. However, he gave more details than anyone would need and can’t say zip-it
to Mr. Chatterbox who thinks this is his own private tour asking endless questions.
Despite all of this, it 
Carlos and his endless info
was interesting-ish.
monument to the end of slavery
I used the facilities…another place to temper
our expectations we are told. I’ve ‘gone’ in all kids of places, all over the
world – from squatting in the African bush, to the 2 toilets, one room
situation in Brazil, to the palatial Japanese thrones. This was a new
experience
for me. 3 toilets, 3 stalls, 1 stall door…very odd. I found the one with a door
(no lock) had to hold it shut, then went to the sink where another woman was on
the toilet…ah, sorry…didn’t see ya there!
The rest of the tour was on the bus save for
one really quick on and off for pics of the rocket-like Agostinho Neto
Mausoleum, for Angola’s first president.
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| dancers |
1975-2002 civil war monument
We drove past the beach area with beach clubs,
restaurants, and bars. I’m sure
this is a happening spot later on. We were
there around 10AM, not so much for bar action in the morning.
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| Agostinho Neto Mausoleum |
bad at all. We needed an escort in Mayotte!
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