When it comes to public trasportation in Mozambique, the chapa is king. These overloaded vans shuttle people in everywhich direction throughout Maputo, trumpetting their presence with constant horn blasts. The vans are designed to carry a maximum of 12 but passengers are sandwhiched into these boxes on wheels in astonishing numbers. Sort of like mobile sardine cans. On one particularly crowded trip from work this week I counted no less then 18 passengers!! The extremely cramped quarters, mixed with the pungent aromatic blend of body odour and exhaust, left a lasting impression. But there is something endearing about the chapa ride at the same time. Whether it's the boisterous doorman, hanging out the window and hollaring at potential passengers, or the highly energetic Mozambican pop music blarring from the speakers, the chapa is a true slice of Africa. And the price of the whole experience? A whopping 15 cents!!