Memories of a memorable first visit to the Ivorian economic capital.
Friday, December 11, 2009. Douala International Airport. It is only 6 hours. The morning breeze was still blowing but the airport is already animated. They are there, these young people who offer all kinds of services. "You have baggage? Want to change money? "One can not escape these issues. These young people, their lives are punctuated by the comings and goings of aircraft at that airport. It follows various formalities. Registration, payment of postage, Airport control. Here it is necessary to remove his belt. Who cares shame. Provided that we manage to pass the metal detector. Finally! Lounge. Deadly dull! It is more than an hour and thirty minutes from the start. We spent a few last phone calls to report that has finished with the formalities. Fortunately, there's this girl, she feels the journalist. I approach her and I was sure, is a sister of a TV channel of the economic capital. Like me, she goes to Abidjan for professional reasons. It is knowledge. We talk about everything and nothing. And finally comes the moment of departure. Outside, one can already see the Boeing 737 of Air Ivoire will welcome us. Fortunately, the seat of my sister and mine are similar. It takes place. There is this pleasant fragrance which spreads beautifully on the plane. I attach the seat belt. Awkwardly. Almost metallic voice of a flight attendant welcomes us. "Welcome aboard .... Please note that this flight is non smoking. Thank you. " The crap that you probably know. And then, take-off maneuvers, takeoff. A hole pierces the air my body. It rises to the sky. From the window, you can see the sinuous trails and roads in Douala. Ah, it's different earth from above! Well, one needs to read. And sometimes stop to chat with my colleague. The heart is already in Abidjan. Our emergency work must take place in about 4 hours. Breakfast served by the stewards. Why God, there are no women to do so. It would be nice. But hey! Small scolding a passenger in the toilet. Probably with a steward. "The toilets stink! "Can be heard. And then what? The crew tells us that we will soon land at Airport Cotonou, Benin. An unexpected pain pierces my eardrums. Is it my headphones? I take them off but nothing changes. My sister she seems to have understood. Since we announced the landing, it became blocked ears. Scientific explanation, "the tympanum is in depression, and it's hard to fill with air in these circumstances." The airport of Cotonou lasts barely 20 minutes. An international mobile phone operator informs us that by sms that we can use our chip and we welcome in Benin. We leave. Again this blip. And my ears will still make me a scene before landing in Abidjan. Formalities at the airport Houphouet Boigny and we here in ivory coast.
Mohamadou HOUMFA and Razvan SCORTA Any privilege Côte d'Ivoire? It is this very special focus of the Ivory Coast, these phrases sheared (commission you gave me there at the leu from the commission that you gave me there). These are tunes that stir up frenzied Africa since the turn of the millennium (mapouka, coupe ... displaced orbits). "The African cities are all alike "I'm out while I, as the hotel IBIS brings us to the hotel where my sister and I are going to spend the night Friday. One comment I will correct the next day by observing the huge buildings built in the city. Ah this country if the war did not slow down, or rather it would Abidjan would be one of the most African cities. A trip to the IBIS Plateau and I just enough time to get up and change me. I want to leave very early to the place of my interview (with a Romanian and Guinea). In Cameroon, taxis are painted yellow. Côte d'Ivoire, they are painted red. I'm really Abroad ! I jumped into a taxi. A taxi-meter. A taxi meter you devour the CFA as you have no idea. Sitting in the taxi, I watch the numbers soar. For a journey that will ultimately not as long as that. How to explain the operation of taxi driver? You walk quietly around your destination. Time to turn the meter. And even arrived, he tried to take me 500 francs. Under the pretext that there is no money. Humph! Above all, do not they know you are a foreigner. Some people try to pluck you. I arrive at the building Ebrien. I find that my interviewers are still occupied with a predecessor. A Cameroonian colleague. I wait about 45 minutes and finally I am receiving. Professional marathon one hour and presto! It's over. I found my predecessor. You chat and I have to wait until "Nathoux" Sister with whom I traveled to sacrifice the requirement that unites us. End!
All three: "Lily", "Nathoux" and I have decided to do a little tour. You look at a few buildings and even these giant billboards that are both present in Abidjan. A real advertising battle. Oh dear. You can see the flag of Cameroon atop a building. What joy! It is during these moments you feel the pride of the country. We decide to go. An embassy staff keeps us on the galley of Cameroon Côte d'Ivoire. Story of a Cameroonian, tired of suffering, which has come to abandon her child to the embassy. Or even those of Cameroon, gnawed by hunger who interrupted the speech of the ambassador to throw himself on the sideboard. About ambassador, he is a cold shower for us. He says hello and we just launched "I'm listening." Mine petrified of my sisters who do return of this "courtesy call" quite patriotic that will eventually become the nightmare of our stay in Abidjan. Back at the hotel IBIS call in Cameroon, a small quiet night. Early morning phone call to Cameroon (billed nearly 5,000 francs, Ah the Ivory Coast!). Thus, Romanian and Romanian Guinea and slept in the same hotel as me. I exchange with Romanian for about thirty minutes. A man opened and if that necessarily creates uninhibited admiration. After freeing the hotel room (we must do so before 13 hours), we must find things to make up to 17 hours. The time when, because of the IBIS must accompany us at the airport. The flight was scheduled at 19.45. Fortunately, there are sisters. They suggest shopping. What makes up approximately 16 hours. Just buy a beer and a deodorant. I almost forgot this little trip to Radio Nostalgie and these photos that we took. But hey. 17.10. Departure for the airport. Formalities. I am informed that my bag has to go to the hold baggage as a result of deodorant. No way to leave. I'll take my bag to hold. Escalator and, Who is seen here ? It is the ambassador who has so poorly received. Accusations of "lily" the ambassador "We want to tell you that we are not happy with the welcome you have given us yesterday." And excellence of saying "there are ambassadors who make you wait a week and who do not." Any witness to the atmosphere in our embassies. Buy a can of beer. And wait in the departure lounge where we will have to move twice to be told that our flight was delayed an hour because of expected passengers. "They see nothing these Ivorian "Storm a passenger. 20.45. Takeoff. Snack. Escale Nsimalen (Yaoundé) at midnight and arrived in Douala after 1 am. Return home. Formalities. "What hast thou kept in Abidjan? "Asks a police officer. So here I am again in Cameroon. If the mark of our good and dear policy. A beer at the police, it does takes away nothing. I rush into a taxi. Night in a hostel and I found Douala. Ah finally! I will say now, once upon a time ... Abidjan!
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