On Monday 4th we made a trip to Newala to check that the farce that happened with the goal posts in the Maasasi won't happen in there. The road there was very bump most practically the majority of the journey. We stopped for a small time in Tandahimba to give church newsletters about FC Vito's journey in the Helsinki Cup to the regional officer. We continued to Newala and made our way to the main officer which is dealer with the distribution of the goals. After some time there it was evident that they are doing some good work as a lot of the posts had been given to the schools already.
We left then happily for a bit of sightseeing. We visited the Boma which currently is a police office to see if we could take a better look at the ruvuma river and into Mozambique. We expected a stern no but where pleasantly surprised when we were called in the bosses office to sign the guest book and said we were very welcome to take pictures of anything and introduced us to another officer who gave us a tour around and explained about when the buildings were built. We have a good look at the river which could be seen clearly from the upstairs balcony. The officer explained some of the problems they had controlling the border previously but now that Mozambique's and Tanzanians don't require a visa any more they can pass freely from country to country. Even though there are border control stations they are quiet easy to pass around.
From here we visited the Makonde Plateau where a local gave us a small walkign tour further on down into the plateau. It was such a beautiful site to look into, a plentiful of trees to see and the Maasasi moutains in the background made the site special. Not only this but the history around the plateau makes a place definitely to visit. It would be nice to visit it again and spend more time walking around deeper into the plateau.
We preceded this by visiting some schools which had received some of the goalposts. We made our way back to Mtwara stopping in Tandahimba due to a car problem which needed to be fixed. We arrived in time to see a local football game between Newala vs Tandahimba. We watch until the end of the first half as by then the car was fixed and we were ready to go back to Mtwara. The game was interesting as Newala for most of the first half were playing with ten men in the opposition half. It didn't seem to help them for the good as by half time they where losing 4 – 1.
On Wedneday we left for DAR and celebrate the Finnish Independence day party which we had been invited to. The setting was really nice along the bay with a view across the peninsula into the centre of Dar. The party was a semi formal event with the ambassadors giving a small speech mid- way through the night. Throughout the night small finger food and drinks where served. Most of the food was served on ruisleipää which was so nice to taste after a long time. It was also nice to meet up with people whom we met last time in Dar for the Nordic sports tournament.
We are staying with friends in Dar until Annukka's parents arrive next week for Christmas, Kenneth and Anuliisa who have been working and living in Dar for many years. It is also good to see another place and travel a little around Tanzania and get out of Mtwara for a short time.
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