Blogs from North, Benin, Africa

May 13, 2010 Hotel: Hotel Bourgogne, Natitingou, Benin http://www.natitingou.org/bourgogne/ A LONG day of travel planned today, covering over 400 kms north to Natitingou (Nati). We went back to the maquis where we had dinner, the book had mentioned that a Belgian tourist had taught the chef how to make crepes. They were delicious with homemade mango jam, yummy! Our guide Marc picked us up on the moto-taxis for the ride back to Bohicon.. this is where the main north-south road passes. We bought a bus ticket around 9:00AM and waited.. and waited as bus after bus arrived from the south (but not our bus). Finally our bus arrived, only to have no seats available.. that was one problem we were worried about as the buses start in Cotonou. We managed to get on anyway and sit ... read more

FORTUNE’ (a new angel) Notes from the last journey to Benin Sometimes, during our journeys of responsible tourism one may encounter human dramas that lacerate our hearts and imprint images in our minds, that will stay for a long time. All facts and people are real. Our holiday in Benin was over. Pierre and Elodie, the two young French that we left in the north of the country, would be back in Ouidah in one day. I thought, possibly, there would be some time to show them Ganvie, the lagoon city. Therese, my Beninese wife, SORROWwas preoccupied. “Do you remember that young girl that we met in that village up in the north? Just 14 years old, she's pregnant. Once the child will be made, she will be expelled from the village. I fear both for ... read more