Mozambique - Days 9,10,11: Pemba

Day 9 was a Monday and our last day in Montepuez. On Monday we celebrated Alan's birthday, loaded up the car, had lunch at home, then hit the road heading back to Pemba to spend some family time at the beach before our flight on Wednesday, Day 11. 

Here are some memories/highlights from days 9-11:

*Monday was Alan's birthday, so he was showered with gifts at the breakfast table.

Chacos from Byron and Jeanette

shirts from the girls
 

*After breakfast, we loaded up the car and headed to Pemba on Monday afternoon.

*In Pemba, we stayed at "the bush camp".  It's a really neat site right on the beach.  Alan and Rachel had a tent for their family and Aaron and I stayed in a backpacker unit.  Unfortunately, the backpacker unit near the tent was all full, so we stayed off a little ways.. made for creepy walks at night. We got to the bush camp right before sunset so Aaron and I kept the girls company while Alan and Rachel set up their tent.  

random huge dog we found

We were laughing because Ellie was such a funny photographer.  First Rachel and I were standing close with our arms around each other, then Ellie made us separate a little.. then she made us put our arms down so she could capture the sun in the back.  :)

Aaron and I attempted to get a picture of us on self timer.. Ellie jumped in last minute. haha

*That evening we went to eat dinner at the Naval Club.  It was fabulous!  We ate outside, right by the water.  Alan even took Aaron and I on a little tour.  

Dinner at the Naval Club

*After dinner, the girls went to bed and we adults stayed up playing games at the bush camp kitchen.  While we were in the kitchen, a couple came in to work on their dinner and there seemed to be something going on.. then we heard "it's going to bite you".. so of course we had to ask what was going on... they had a squid!  

*After games, Aaron and I walked back to our backpacker unit.  Remember that creepy walk I mentioned?  Yeah it's really creepy when it's dark.  The backpacker unit is basically a bamboo structure that has walls a bit taller than a normal person, but then there is open space above the wall until the very high roof to let in sunlight and air.  The doors don't have any way to lock them, they just push to.  So Aaron and I arrived back at our unit and I was checking out the interesting strings hanging from the roof.  Aaron decided to show me that it's for holding up the windows.  He opened the window and we heard a man say "obrigado" which is thank you in Portugese.. then I saw a flash light for a second and then he was gone.  Talk about extra creepy!  There was a man under our window!  and he said thank you!  Come to find out, he was the guard... but we didn't know it that night.. so I didn't sleep very well at all.  Of course I would wake up every hour being paranoid then I would hear crazy animal sounds.  It was quite an experience.  We definitely slept better the next night when we knew there was a guard.

our bed in the backpacker unit at the bush camp

*On Tuesday, Day 10, we spent the morning playing at the beach with the girls.  We had to trudge through really thick mud to get down to the water since it was low tide.  We pushed the girls around on foam boards and just had fun playing.  Alan and the girls even found a few crabs while we were at the beach.

*We went to lunch at an Indian restaurant that has beautiful views of the beach.  The restuarant has a pool, which is where we were planning to spend the afternoon, but it was under construction, so we just ate lunch then played at the bush camp beach.

butter chicken

sharing ice cream

Indian Ocean

*Before heading back to the bush camp, we stopped at another restaurant and picked up pizzas to have for dinner that night.  It has some really cool decor!

*The whole gang got in the water that afternoon.. but it was pretty chilly! and Katie was not a big fan, so she and Alan got out before long.  Abby and Ellie loved climbing on the tree.. and their parents! and then they would take turns swimming to and from their mom and the raft.  They really love the water!

 

*Tuesday night - pizza and more games!

*Wednesday we packed up all our stuff and took some pictures down at the beach before heading to lunch at a local restaurant.  One last meal before our flight.  

 Ellie was helping me set up the self timer.. ha

*The Pemba airport is a bit chaotic.. in my opinion.  I wish I had taken a few pictures of our last few minutes together.. but I was so stressed trying to check my luggage and make it through immigration that it didn't happen.  After we checked our bags, we were able to spend a few more minutes with the Africa Howells before heading through immigration.  We all joined in a circle and Alan said a prayer for our travels.  Then we hugged those nieces multiple times and said our goodbyes.  I somehow made it without crying.  :)  I think it's because we get to see them in less than a year when they come to the states on furlough!  When Aaron and I walked outside to get on the airplane we heard sweet voices yelling "BYYYYEEE AARON AND ERIN, WE LOVE YOU!"  We turned around and saw our family waving from the waiting area.  Oh what a sweet way to end our time in Mozambique. :)