Blogs from Sierra Leone, Africa - page 5

The name Sierra Leone is originally Portuguese, meaning Lioness Mountains. Although I knew this and I knew that Freetown was on a peninsula I hadn’t expected to see the city rise out of the ocean in quite such a dramatic way. Our flight arrived at Lungi airport early in the morning and from there we travelled over to Freetown via boat allowing for good views of the green hills scattered with buildings. My first impression of Sierra Leone was that it reminded me a lot of Uganda. Red roads, vivid green trees, small stalls lining the streets selling anything and everything - just a little more chaotic. There are a few tarmac roads around the capitol but there are many more rough dirt roads scattered with potholes and completely uneven. Thankfully I travelled over with colleagues ... read more

Today I have been to the Tonkilili Iron ore mine, we left early for a 4 hour drive up through the country through mountains, hills and local villages. Sierra Leone is lush green with palm trees everywhere but tinged with orange dust, just like Ghana, it also has amazing scenery. We passed many villages with men building mud huts or making bricks, women washing clothes in streams or cooking and children carrying water or playing. I was snapping away with my camera and then “BANG” Charles (driver) had hit something he stopped and he said “I’m going back for that”, I will have that for my dinner, AND that ladies and gentlemen is why I take my own food to Sierra Leone! He had hit a hawk, it was an amazing bird, so huge and I ... read more

My Journey home started at 4pm Freetown time (5pm UK time) where I was taken to the port and bought a ticket for the ferry for Lunghi which is where the airport is based, whilst sitting waiting for the ferry an elderly gentleman came in and said "are you going to London?" of which I replied yes, he asked if I would post a letter for him - it had a UK stamp on it so I agreed, after he walked off the others in the room told me to open it as I dont know what is in the letter - and of course they are right, it really was stupid of me to agree to take the letter - I guess its just my trusting nature. Thankfully upon opening the letter it only contained ... read more

just for you...... read more

There are managers toilets and there are the plebs toilets (Plebs being those not yet at management status) for those that have not yet experienced the delights of a managers toilet it is not filling with gold plated toilet seats and monkeys that wipe your bottom it is locked and it has toilet paper - that is the difference. Today I was denied access to the manager toilet "shock horror" I was told "you must use the ladies..." I thought ah well at least I always bring my own bog roll with me as I entered I was a little worried but I neednt be - this toilet was cleaner than the managers toilet, it had lovely smelling hand wash and even had a hand towel - I will use it again! :) and when I ... read more