Christmas under the Sun
Posted by Richard on Tuesday 1st January 2002 at 12:00 AM
Who needs a white Christmas when you've got a pool? But too much wine and you swim like a turkey!
Chez Liz
Posted by Richard on Tuesday 1st January 2002 at 12:00 AM
Our base for the trip was Liz and Paul's house in Cotonou. Special thanks to Pauline and Etienne for looking after us all for a fortnight, and to Achilles for teaching Mark to swim.
Cotonou
Posted by Richard on Tuesday 1st January 2002 at 12:00 AM
Cotonou, Benin's main town, is a remarkable place, but not for the faint-hearted. Mopeds outnumber cars by 10 to 1, and sometimes drive on the same side of the road!
Grand Popo
Posted by Richard on Tuesday 1st January 2002 at 12:00 AM
We spent two nights in the Auberge at Grand Popo, not far from the border with Togo. If only they had air-conditioning ...
Ouidah
Posted by Richard on Tuesday 1st January 2002 at 12:00 AM
For New Year's Eve we travelled to Ouidah (the birth place of Voodoo) to stay at the newly opened Casa del Papa - a rough ride, but worth every bruise!
Lac Nokoué
Posted by Richard on Tuesday 1st January 2002 at 12:00 AM
Cotonou lies between the Atlantic Ocean and Lac Nokoué. We took a boat from the Hotel du Lac on the Lagune de Cotonou, and crossed the Lac Nokoué en route to Ganvié.
Ganvié
Posted by Richard on Tuesday 1st January 2002 at 12:00 AM
Ganvié at the northwest of Lac Nokoué is described (by some!) as the Venice of Africa - a lake village of some 15,000 people making their living primarily from fishing.
More of Benin
Posted by Richard on Tuesday 1st January 2002 at 12:00 AM
Unfortunately we didn't have the opportunity to explore far beyond the coastal region, and we didn't see too much wild-life. So, still plenty to do next time!
