A Tuesday in Yaoundé

I stayed another day in Yaoundé. I had the usual avocado salad and instant coffee at a street stand, the one I went to first, the man was actually serving salad instead of lettuce. How he washed the salad is another matter: he has a huge bucket full of water, which he poured into a […]

Visa no. 15: Gabon in Yaoundé

The security man makes sure you wear long trousers (and possibly shirt). I had shirt with short sleeves and shorts, I lost my long trousers on my way. He didn’t let me in. He simply said I must buy trousers and that it’s not him that it’s the consul and that the rules are written […]

Happy new week in Lagos

People also wish you happy new week in Nigeria. Although I don’t know if it means they want something from you or they are just friendly. I waited until travel time shown by Google for the distance of 13kms to Ericsson office will decrease from 1hr 15min to something more bearable. After 9am the time […]

Visa no. 14: Cameroon in Lagos

I applied at 11am and collected the visa after 2pm. The visa costs N45000 and they give out only “temporary” visas valid for one month after the stated date of entry. The man at the reception asked for 2 photos and passport photocopy. He also insisted that the only way to cross to Cameroon at […]

Visa no. 13: Congo in Cotonou

The Republic of Congo has an honorary consulate in Cotonou. It’s a bit away from the city centre but the 10kms cost me 600cfa on a zemidjan. They ask for passport photocopy (there is a place to do it on a street parallel to where the consulate is), one passport photo and hotel booking. A […]

Visa no. 12: Togo on arrival

Togo gives visa on arrival, 7 days, for 10,000cfa. The visa can be later extended in Lomé. I had to fill up a form and the main problem was telephone number in Togo that I had to provide. I copied two phone numbers of My Diana Guesthouse from The Rough Guide to West Africa and […]

Visa no. 11: Benin online

Republic of Benin sets a bar high when it comes to how visas should be. I did it online (possibly it’s cheaper in the embassies) at http://www.evisa.gouv.bj, paid 50EUR and the visa was in my inbox the moment the card was charged. OK, maybe three moments after that. It’s a single entry visa valid for […]

Friday in Freetown: no more rainy days

Morning became a routine already. Out by just before 11am, chatted with the tourism men who are here again. Breakfast a stew green with rice at Jeska Mac, off on a moto to Nigerian Embassy. As I walked in I saw two young men, possibly Nigerians, entering the compound and snapping photos all around. Photos […]

Visa no. 10: Ivory Coast in Freetown

This is how all visas should be. Ivory Coast maintains a honorary consulate in Freetown. It’s at 1 Wilson Street. I arrive at the consulate at 1:15pm on Friday. Its marked by Ivorian flag, there is no sign. I see a man outside he leads me to a room. Visas are granted, take 2 working […]

Visa no. 9: Nigeria in Freetown

It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster. Monday. The high commission opens for consular affairs at 10am, I’m asked to wait outside. We enter a few minutes past 10, I, a Lebanese man and a German couple. A man comes out to meet us. The Germans are quoted $175 each for the visa paid to […]