2012 - OCEAN PRINCESS - BENIN

COTONOU - BENIN - STILL NOT WITH ME?

NEXT DOOR TO NIGERIA IN WEST AFRICA.

WITH ME NOW?

OK - NEVER MIND - LOOK IT UP LATER,

GETTING REVED UP & IN WE GO....

IT WILL PROBABLY BE AS BORING AS A SAND DUNE BUT WHAT THE HAY, WE ARE HERE NOW...

WE WERE GREETED BY THE VILLAGE CHIEF & THERE WAS A SMALL CEREMONY OF GREETING WHICH INCLUDED A SPRINKLING OF WATER & MAYBE FLOUR OR SALT ON THE GROUND..

CLOSE YOUR EYES NOW LADIES...NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.

I SAID - CLOSE YOUR EYES NOW LADIES...OH, NEVER MIND.

THEY'VE SEEN IT ALL BEFORE.....

THE CHIEF AND HIS LADIES ,,,,

THIS GUY CANNOT MAKE OUT WHAT ALL THESE WHITE FOLKS ARE UP TO OR MAYBE HE RECKONS THE CHUBBY ONE WOULD GO WELL WITH A NICE CHIANTI.

THE CHIEF AGAIN - NOTE THE SNAKE ON THE WALL. ANOTHER GOOD REASON TO HAVE A ZOOM CAMERA.

JOSH & SANDY.

ENERGETIC DANCERS.

ONE OF THE CREW WITH US WAS HANDING OUT SOME MAKE-UP TO THE LADIES. THAT WENT DOWN WELL UNTIL SHE HAD NO MORE & THERE WERE LADIES LEFT WITHOUT.

WE LEAVE THE LITTLE VILLAGE & HEAD TO A SMALL TOWN...

MARY IN BLUE & JOSH...LOTS OF LOCALS...

WE ARE TAKEN INTO A SMALL ENCLOSED YARD...

THIS IS A SNAKE PLACE...BLOOD ON THE FLOOR...

SANDY WITH WADE LURKING OVER HER SHOULDER. DON’T GET TOO CLOSE WADE, SHE BITES...

SANDY AGAIN WITH MARY OVER HER OTHER SHOULDER...

NO IDEA WHO THESE TWO ARE...

INSIDE A LITTLE ROOM & LOTS OF SNAKES ON THE FLOOR..

OK - BREATH NOW...

FILLING BOTTLES WITH GAS FOR SALE....

LADIES CARRY ALL SORTS ON THEIR HEADS...

SANDY INSIDE A SMALL MUSEUM..WHICH MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN A PEE BREAK.

MORE LOCALS.

THEN WE HIT THE BEACH FOR LUNCH ...

BACK IN THE BUS IT IS A TAD WARM ... 50 DEGREES CENTIGRADE WARM ... THEY KEPT THE DOOR OPEN TO GIVE US A BREEZE IN LIEU OF A/C.

NOW WE ARE GOING FOR A LITTLE BOAT RIDE...

LOTS OF COLOUR. LOTS OF BUSTLE..

ARMED SECURITY ON SHORE & HE CAME WITH US ON THE BOAT.

..... A BARCELONA SUPPORTER

PEOPLE HERE LIVE OVER THE LAKE IN HOUSES ON STILTS.

THEY MUST GET SICK OF TOURISTS COMING OUT TO GAWP AT THEM. AND SINCE WE DON’T EVEN GET OFF THE BOAT, THEY DERIVE NO INCOME FROM US.

THE INEVITABLE BLIGHT OF THE COCA COLA SIGN,

..... HEADING BACK THROUGH TOWN, THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS COMMOTION ON TOP OF THIS BUILDING. PEOPLE RUNNING & SHOUTING. I WONDERED IF WE HAD WANDERED INTO A RIOT BUT THE DRIVER JUST DROVE PLACIDLY BY.

IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE UNIVERSITY WITH THE STUDENTS DOING SOMETHING.

AND THAT’S IT FOR BENIN - I LIKE IT.

I WANT TO GO ROUND AGAIN.