Etoile du Sud Grand Bassam

... at the time when the oath of office was being given. In one area there was a crowd of 100 or so rapt people watching the inauguration on a TV. They were transfixed. This election has had quite an effect on people in the African places I've visited over the last months. When the driver stopped in front of the hotel the driver said "you put me in your suitcase; I go with you America!" I told him with a smile that I wished I could take him; perhaps some day.

... and Israel. They were fascinated to see the biblical sites we had visited and hear the explanations. Then I answered questions for half an hour or so from established members as well as some very new people: are some sins worse than others?, why don't we have prayer meetings during the week?, why don't we give offerings every week like other churches do?, why is the Church of God small compared to other groups? Several people asked about ...

Well, I am down to 8 more days before heading home. It has only rained 3 times here since I arrived, but a storm is really brewing right now. There is an outdoor regae concert that we are supposed to go to tonight; I think it is in a place called Trechville. If the weather holds up, it should be pretty good; but the rain is here now. I have to admire how hard people work here, even if it is things we take for granted back in the west. It doesn't matter where we go, men ...

... this place made the Bronx in New York look like Beverly Hills. As everyone peeked out to look at the white man, I wondered if I was just hot or sweating for different reasons. I was on a pedestal for all to see and I did not enjoy the walk down the runway all that much. Thankfully my guides knew their way around and when I learned that we were only there so Abou could say hi to a cousin, I shook my head and smirked. I was not about to smile about it, at least until we ...

... There has been the smell of rain in the air, but so far, we haven't been that lucky. From what the locals say, this December is hotter than it is supposed to be. Better not let David Suzuki find out. For some reason, we cannot figure out how to download photos here at the cyber cafe and for that reason, the are no pics yet. We are looking for other options, but other than trying to find another internet cafe or someone with their own computer, I am hooped. If we do find a way to send some ...

... into our self-catered flat and were at the local grocery store picking up provisions for the weekend. Abidjan was fascinating to me. It wasn`t particularly good looking but you could tell that this city had once been very cosmopolitan. There were huge office buildings and a downtown and grocery stores and people selling baguettes on the street. It almost looked like Geneva, if we were in the 1970s and the city had been through a decade of coups. The city was busy and expensive and ...

Today included a baptism, the last part of camp, and our onward travel to Abidjan in Côte d'Ivoire, through which we have to transit to get to Cameroon. Daniel and I were up and out the hotel door at 6:30 this morning. Mr. Fiaboé, and Pierre Kloutsé were waiting. The rest of the group arrived a minutes later, including Juliette who was to be baptized, and friends. We walked across the street and then across the sand of the beach until we reached the ...

... la course est exorbitant et non discutable, donc .... on descend! Marre de ces embrouilles permanentes! Nous allons à l'aéroport et là çà recommence: un "employé" de l'aéroport nous dit que pour manger, c'est moins cher à l'extérieur de l'aéroport et nous propose de nous accompagner. On n'est pas nés de la dernière pluie!!!! Nous lui disons qu'on va à l'aéroport quand même. Il répond qu'il peut intercéder pour nous faire entrer en zone d ...

... asked if they could leave on Sunday to avoid the road trip back to Cotonou. The cost was about the same to put them up an extra couple of days or pay for the trip to Cotonou, so I agreed. That will also give Moïse more time to recuperate before the trip. Kossi then drove me the short distance to the airport, where we took our leave of each other, and I went to check in. The TSA lock on my (brand new) suitcase didn't survive the trip to Abidjan ...

... it is outdated and many of the places it lists no longer exists or are in a bad state. For food, you can stick to the maquis on Rue de Princess like Le Boss, or venture in town to the Chinese restaurant (oh yes). Better to come here or Hacienda for drinks and then choose one of the two bigger maquis or restaurant to eat in. If you ask for Mr Pie's establishment you wont be dissapointed. There is also a patisserie that is nice to take coffee ...