Cape Maclear

Must get out of hot Mangochi for the weekend, so we are headed back to beautiful Lake Malawi. This time, we’re visiting a place that’s been called one of the most beautiful places in all of Africa – Chembe, or Cape Maclear. Getting there wasn’t too terrible (though the last 18 k of road are spine-jarring dirt ruts) and apparently a whole slew of people agree because we had trouble finding a place to stay when we got there. At our sixth stop, we found a little bit of paradise at the Mgoza. I could live here forever in a little thatched roof hut with a huge bed and walk-in mosquito net.

Cape Maclear

Aside…Mosquito netting with small children really bites. It’s like living in an A-frame on all sides, and little people are constantly jabbing a limb out of the side or pushing it against the net creating mosquito heaven. Walk-in netting, on the other hand, is lovely.

Makes a twin bed feel very small, especially when you have to share with a child!

Ah, yes. That's the ticket

Lydi and friends

Anywho, we had a tremendous time playing in the water with local kiddos (for whom Lydia’s golden locks had some kind of a magnetism that they couldn’t keep their hands off), swinging in the hammock and generally luxuriating. I began to think this was Shangri La until I woke up in my breezy hut to the sound of waves crashing and the feel of thousands of tiny black ants crawling through my hair and across my upper torso. Ewww.

Ants aside, a wonderful excursion and we will definitely try to get back for a few days at the end of our trip.

Note to all: sorry for the nearly total lack of communication. We have two internet connection options. One is at the hospital – which rarely works – and the other is an expensive internet café (more like a working library, really) across town, which is difficult to get to and my children seem to delight in interrupting the work of all who are there so I feel like an obnoxious Azungo everytime I go. Although, I am here now by myself (a rare treat) and the guy is asking "Where are the children?"

Breakfast on the beach

Hot blooded baby is so happy at the cooler lake!

We’re all safe and happy and having a great time!