first impressions of Togo

Today was another blackout day. A dark, hot ship lacking sucking toilets didn't appeal too much so we, and most of the rest of the crew headed out. We really appreciate those people who stayed and worked hard to clean the engine coolers in the heat, it means that hopefully we won't need another blackout until we are ready to leave Togo and the patients are not on board.

We went out, on the road back to Benin in search of somewhere to swim. In some ways Togo is similar to Benin, but thankfully there are far less motorbikes as taxis here are cars. Still some zemis though and most did not seem to have much sense of what is safe as they drove on the wrong side of the road and down pavements with no helmets. The road was not in bad condition, although the drivers still see it as optional- if traffic slows they try and jump the queue by driving on the sand next to the road and then push their way back in. It is strange how normal that all is now.

We saw very similar looking market stalls with bread and fruit, but much more evidence of small scale market gardening with people growing things in very neat rows and watering them as we passed by. Maybe it was just where we didn't see it in Benin as we are a little more out of the city here.

We were really pleased to discover that there are hotels here, mostly on the beach with pools that you can pay to swim at. We went to one with 8 or so other families today which had a play area as well! Seriously exciting stuff - a playground in Africa! And soap in the bathroom :-) It was a slight shame that the water has turned all our swim wear green. I am waiting for the laundry to to see if green swim wear is a permanent feature.

it is all starting..

We have had a mum and baby needing us already and the dental team have been to check out the new clinic facilities lined up for us to use:

http://alirae.net/blog/archives/343-welcoming-committee.html


http://tvedtfamily.blogspot.com/2010/02/round-point-clinic.html

The hospital is being unpacked and cleaned. The news is out in Togo that we are here so people know where and when to find us to be screened. We have day volunteer interviews next week ready to organise who will be translators or working in other areas in the ship alongside crew. Joshua really wants to know where the people are that we are here to help that we have been talking about. Soon we will meet them which is exciting!

The turtle

I wrote on my facebook status a few days ago that we had seen whales, dolphins, porpoises, flying fish...plus beautiful sunsets and plenty of ocean...but really wanted to see a turtle while we were sailing. Well it waited long enough - but technically we were still sailing.

 

  

Here (s)he is.

Sarah.

Our new view

 

  

The second picture is what we can see directly out of the window -the row of blue containers that the port are very speedily putting into position . They are making a container wall around us, these containers were put here within minutes of us arriving and there are more out of sight further down the dock. Already the top picture looks a bit different as they have moved the concrete hoppers and continued the container wall past where the bus is on the left side of the picture up the dock the other way too. 

Beauty is not everything and at least there should be space to play on the dock this year without fear of being run over which is a big plus for us. And having a slightly private area might mean we see less people spending a penny outside our window than in Benin! 

Is that Togo? Is that Togo?

Joshua kept asking - are those rocks Togo? Is that ship in Togo? Is that dock Togo?

 

Tom getting ready for arriving with his flag of Togo

 

Most of the nursery/preschool boys making faces after watching the pilot board

Oh yes we are IN TOGO!!!

 

The tug says we are in Lome, Togo and there are some crew members waving from it!

 

This is our berth on the right, just a little further than where the people are standing

We were welcomed by a great crowd on the dock, a whole brass band and then a whole lot of drums playing 'our God is an awesome God' and some French African songs that have come to be so familiar to us. It is good to see old friends, crew who have been striving here to get things ready for us and some of last years day volunteers come back to welcome us.

 

Singing from the end of the dock and a brass band welcome

  

Tom still holding his flag as we get tied up
 

More people where the ship has docked to welcome us with music

 

Togo's flag being carried down the gangway to start the arrival ceremony

Pictures of the new dock to follow. More pics on Olly and Sally's blog, although don't get any ideas that the view out of our window is like theirs! We're facing the dock!

http://peetfamilyinliberia.blogspot.com/2010/02/togo.html