Hello Hello! This weekend, as Facebook and my previous blogs
mentioned, I went to Benin. Benin is Togo’s eastern neighbour and only an hour
from Lome.
Besides organising Visas the week before for the 7 of us
going, we were very disorganised on Friday when we left. We were blessed to
find two taxi’s willing to take us to Cotonou, a three-hour trip and then again
as our French speaker, Sam, managed to find a reasonable Catholic hotel in
Cotonou. The border crossing was typical: slow, painful, unnecessarily
complicated and with the policemen telling the girls they could not pass
through as they had to stay with them. I was in fact informed that I did not
even need a visa with my SA passport!
The trip was pleasant; our driver was pacing the other.
Probably to compensate for the regular bribe stops and pot hole slow-downs. We
arrived in Cotonou after dark and after finding our hotel. We met an American
man involved in water projects who has been visiting the country for 15 years (glad
to be staying in the same hotel as he). He advised a Chinese restaurant across
the road where I had a calamari that I have been craving, which is odd because
I rarely eat it at home. I even had leftovers!
The rooms were hot and thankfully had fans. Even so under
the mosquito nets the fan was largely ineffective. Sam and I chatted until 3. I
couldn’t believe how quickly time went. When our alarm went off at 7, we were
so tired that it went on for about three minutes. We had breakfast downstairs
and my Nutella was very handy with the plain baguettes. A day worker Antoine
met up with us a bit later and we went to the stilt village, Genvie. This is a
community of 30 000 living in wooden houses above a lagoon. We took a boat that
was meant to be propelled by men with long sticks but this turned into one with
a motor. The village was different, not that spectacular. I’m glad we went
though.
Afterwards, while waiting for our taxis, I ate my left over
calamari, rice and vegetables… with my hands of course. After much discussion
with the drivers, we left Cotonou for Bab’s Dock. It’s difficult to describe
this place. It was as though the Swiss family Robinson had landed on a lake
that was never deeper than 2 meters and uninhabited and then built a house,
guesthouse, bar and small zoo. The pictures will probably show it best. I had a
homemade Bissap juice, which was delicious, while others ate. We played some
volleyball and generally relaxed. After a few hours we took the motorboat away
from luxury, across the lake, through mangroves and back to West Africa. Its
crazy how far from Africa the place felt.
We arrived at our host and day worker Thomas’ cousin’s house
in Cotonou. This was the best part of the weekend. We were unfortunately late
and got there after dark. Before dinner we were offered palm gin. This was so
potent. It probably would have evaporated out my cup if I didn’t drink it fast
enough. The family had prepared chicken, fish, fufu and gravy. This is the most
satisfying meal I have had. It was very special sitting there, feeling so
blessed by the family who had prepared this special meal.
We were offered the bed inside but it was so hot that we all
slept outside. I was wearing long pants, had insect spray and mosquito nets
around me buy I still managed to get bitten rather badly on my legs.
On Sunday we woke early to meet up with Antoine againso that
we might visit his church. We had coffee and bread (with Nutella, of course)
for breakfast before catching a bus, taxi and two motorbikes to church. Hmmm, church.
The preacher taught money and took 4 offerings. Sam walked out! It is so sad to
see how the congregation just lap up every word. The service was two and a half
hours long but not all that boring. It gave me a good time to pray! Afterwards,
while we waited outside, we could hear children screaming inside. Exorcisms.
We were told we could get a lift home in the priest’s bus
and only cover the cost of petrol. While we waited we played soccer with some
children in the street and then ate some coconuts that we had with us.
We went back to our hosts for another good meal, lamb curry
with rice or fufu. We were unfortunately hurried as we wasted much time after
church. We left in the bus that took us back to where we’d been earlier where
we were transferred to Peugeot car. No surprises the bus could not, in fact,
take us home. They did, however, try and extort the same amount of money from
us as they had earlier predicted would be necessary to cover petrol, only
without actually doing us any favours. It was cramped in the car and we still
managed to fit in a random person. So there were ten of us in this car and it
was probably the fastest on the road. We got through the border and arrived
back at the ship at 9pm for a very late but tasty Mexican dinner. It was a
mixed weekend but I am definitely glad to have been.
Otherwise, I am trying to save some money for my holiday
with dad in the Canary Islands in July. I would like to visit Ghana but would
need an expensive visa.
I received a package of vitals from home yesterday, which
was wonderful! Thanks for the things, mum and Grandma. I also attended my first
South African evening in the Marx’s family cabin where we watched Funny People.
I had watched it with the Semples a few years ago but it remains a hilarious
film. It was good to meet together. We have been asked to sing and pray at Easter,
representing southern Africa. So we planned that as well.
Moukaela has now been here 3 weeks and is thoroughly enjoying
playing Sorry!,
a fun game. He now has a balaclava type thing on to aid in his healing- he hasn’t
recovered as hoped but he remains a strong boy. I look forward to visiting him
most evenings.
Will go swimming later and hopefully finish my book! There
will also be a fire drill: (
Love to you all
