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The pale blue dot blog
Togo, Benin & Ghana
This is a long of week on the road in West Africa, across Ghana, Togo and Benin. This part of the world is still one of the best destination for the travel that wishes to emerge into the African culture, to understand the challenges of everyday life and understand...
North Togo and Ghana
After a challenging night in prison-like rooms, we had some breakfast and crossed the Benin-Togo border. The semi-abandoned border post was guarded by a bored police officer who spent twenty minutes to copy our names in his logbook, in Greek script! [gallery...
North Benin
After a good breakfast we set course to Natitingou, 400km north of Dasse Zoume. We spent more than 6 hours on the dirt road - supposedly under construction - slowing down every 50 meters to avoid the large potholes and the tons of dust produced by the crossing trucks....
Ganvié & Abomey
The next morning we drove for 40 minutes to Abomey Calavi to visit Ganvie, a picturesque village with stilt houses on Lake Nokoué. It was founded in the 17th century by the Tofinu people to escape capturing and slavery. Everyday life revolves around the lake. The...
South Benin
The distance from Lomé to Aneho is only 44 km, but it took over an hour to reach the fishing town, right at the Beninese border. After a short stop for pictures, we moved to the border and did the paperwork for crossing. Ioanna had an expired visa and had to negotiate...
Lomé
The flight arrived on time, but Egyptair left my friend’s luggage in Cairo, so they had to manage for the next 3 days with whatever clothes they were wearing. Mental note: never, ever check-in any luggage if you had planned to change hotels every day. We met Sam, our...
Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia
Since the day I begun traveling, I dreamed that one day I will visit the lower Omo valley. The reason was none other than the amazing series of photos from the Mursi tribe that I saw in a french photography magazine. The lip plates, the body painting, the local...
Crocs, Markets and Museums
I went to bed with my noise cancelling earphones so I managed to sleep longer. The noise from the neighboring Orthodox church is defeating and the priest could use some singing classes. After breakfast, we headed to Key Afer, one hour drive, to visit the largest...
Mursi and Ari
The night was short. I woke up at 3:30 by the screaming loudspeakers of the neighboring Orthodox church. Apparently the mass in Ethiopia starts at 4am and won't finish until 7:30. Not a good start for what I was afraid to be a challenging day. I had read a lot about...
Daasanach and Bana
From Turmi to Omorate is about an hour drive over very good tarmac. A blasé government official in an indifferent office checked our passports and registered the details in a logbook, as this is the last town before the Kenyan border. I wonder if anyone ever checks...
Karo and the Turmi Market
The breakfast at the Turmi Lodge was minimal. I am sure it had to do with the fact that we were the only guests, but still it was a major disappointment. I settled for some coffee, some juice and what were allegedly french toasts. We drove some 40km west, through...
Konso and Hamer
The breakfast at the Paradise Lodge overlooking lake Chamo was pleasant, but as with every state-run establishment in Ethiopia, we had serious issues in communicating with the staff. Their English is poor and their training, well, poorer. We drove to Konso, a small...