African Adventures Part 1
I went to Yamoussokro and Bouaké last weekend (August 21-23)and
had some interesting experiences getting there and back.
We thought we had rented a car for 30 000 f CFA a day and at the last minute
it ended up being 70 000 and they were counting friday as a whole day
even though we were only leaving at 4 pm..so..we took the bus...
Not as simple as it may sound.
First of all, it's in the most dangerous part of town..the bus station of
Adjamé (la gare routière d'Adjamé).
So, as you are driving there in your taxi all of a sudden the taxi driver
tells you to lock the door and roll up the window and not even a minute later,
there are people all over the car, running alongside, holding on, and
staring in the window asking where are you going, where are you going, etc
etc. Eventually we get to the right bus depot and get off. First the
lady sends us here then someone else sends us back to the first lady.
Eventually we get our tickets. We are told we are leaving in about 10 minutes.
After about 30 we are tired of standing around so go sit down and get a drink
and buy some croissants.
Finally they call for people to line up on the right side of the bus at
the back door..line up! haha right!
We make our way to that general direction..there is like a huge
mob...probaby about 150some people. We all have tickets and everyone is
pushing and yelling. Then the conductor guy says those with number 14
can board. I look at our tickets and see we have the number 16. Everyone
is yelling and pushing and stopping people from getting on. Eventually i
figure out that the 14 was for 14 HOURS...as in 2 pm...and these people
bought their tickets during that hour. Ours was bought during 4 and it
was now almost 6. Naturally the 14 people really wanted to get on the
bus.
They let some on, probably about 10, then they call out 16. Another huge
uproar cause they missed the 15s but we were too concerned with trying
to get on. Marie José got on pretty easily, she was closer to the
stairs. I got on about 5 minutes later. The conductor takes your ticket
and then you have to push your way on while you are being pushed away so
that someone else can get on...quite a task. I did however eventually
get on but we were all of a sudden worried...what if Lindsay doesn't make
it? He was one of the last ones on. I guess he had a harder time than
us.
The bus was supposed to be air conditioned but their air conditioning
consisted of a window at the top of the bus that was open. However, since
it was evening and the sun was down it wasn't too bad...crowded though...and no
leg room.
The trip should take only 2 hours you would think since its 200 and a few kms..but
it took us about 4..with lots of stops on the way to pee on the side of
the road or to let people off at villages where little girls come
running up to the bus with things on their head to sell so you dont have
to get off the bus to buy anything.
We got into Yamoussokro around 10 pm. What a nice change. There were people
at the bus station but noone bothered us like in Abidjan. We found a
hotel, put our stuff in and headed out to a maquis to eat. It seemed so
relaxing and peaceful.
Next day we saw the huge cathedral which really looks rather
ridiculous in Africa. On the stained glass windows they even
"immortalized" the former president as he's in one of the scenes. I took
a picture of it. Haha.
Then we saw the Foundation Houphouet Boigny for research for
peace. Haha what a joke! What it is, is this amazingly huge building
where inside it has all these marble
floors and columns, offices for 200some people...and it was left empty
for the first 10 years cause they didnt know what to do with it, and now
there are a maximum of 50 people working there!
Next, we went to see the crocodiles in front of the presidential palace and
got to see them being fed, again I took lots of pictures. Maybe I can get some up in December.
We then hired a taxi to drive us to Bouaké
for 16 000 f CFA. We didnt want to deal wth the bus again.
No real problems and saw the countryside and the villages on the way.
Bouaké was even more friendly. I loved that city. Its the second largezst
city in Côte d'Ivoire and people look at you out of curiosity, but they
dont pester you and try to sell you things etc. Its a really nice change from Abidjan.
Next morning we wanted to try a bush taxi home. We asked the price and it was 3000
to Abidjan. We paid and then they wanted 500 each on top of that. We
fought and fought and eventually got on without having to pay it.
Bush taxis are more comfortable..more leg room..and smaller..there are
17 seats..although we had 20 people in it!
After Yamou, we realize there are only us and two African ladies
left. That is bizarre as usually the bush taxis won't leave unless every seat is full.
But we think how nice to have lots of room. Then, just outside
of the city limits we stop. The driver says he's coming back.
The muslim ladies as well as the car "boy" get out to wash and pray.
Eventually the driver comes back
and tells us he's "suffering" and can't go on any further...
we have to take the bus. We get mad and fight with him but have no
luck. Eventually he gives us half our fare back and we catch the second
bus that comes by. We are sure it is an agreement between the bus drivers and the bush taxis.
We arrived without any more real difficulties.
Well...that was my journey to the centre of the country. This weekend we
are going to Jacqueville. We have to cross the lagoon by boat to get
there. Let's hope we dont sink!
Did you like this story? Would you like to check out more travelogues? Visit my African Travelogues at my new online library, and see some of my recommendations!
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African Adventures Part 2 Jacqueville
African Adventures Part 3 Burkina Faso
African Adventures Part 4 Mali and Return to Burkina Faso
About Me!
African Anecdotes
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