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The pace is relaxed at home, but in the street in town it can be HECTIC. The main market seems to spread out everywhere and everyone is selling something. Enjoy bargaining.
Most places we eat are outdoors or have outdoor seating. It's hard to beat dining on a fresh grilled whole fish with a Beninois (OK, the hub likes Castel).
There are some beautiful beaches. More touristy, near Quartier S. Jacques. is a beachside restaurant where you can relax with a drink. This neighborhood is full of guarded walled in houses and expensive cars.
Some other Factoids:
Gas is sold from refillable glass bottles, but there there are many more gas stations in Cotonou now.
The club scene is hopping and everyone dances.
People are out and about from early until late at night.
You can see buildings falling into the ocean as the shore line changes as a result of the port construction.
Many people build within a compound wall. The construction wave seem to be continuing apace, but the price of cement has gone up, up, up. I think they've pretty much shut down people taking free sand from the beach for construction now.
Ouidah--UNESCO site of slave trade port. Somewhere between Cotonou and here we visited a sacred forest where an older gentleman guided us through with a bit of a story about each deity/sculpture. A place where if you haven't lived the story you know you're only at the very edge of an endless ocean of learning.
Porto Novo--the capital city. The more I go there the more it's growing on me as calmer than Cotonou.
Ganvie is a community of stilt houses on the lake. We took an open motorized boat from Cotonou. It was great, but the river is a trash dumping ground--crazy. Fishermen each have their own areas set up...and a water iris imported from somewhere else is doing it's best to choke the environment.
March was beautiful weather with cooler evenings
June RAIN
December cool mornings were fantastic (72ish), kids were wearing sweaters
A personal page
http://home.online.no/~annekie/cotonou.htm
A personal page with photos
http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/5b526/d11/
Tourist guide page
http://www.benintourisme.com/ang/places/cotonou/cotonou.htm
American Embassy news
http://usembassy.state.gov/benin/
- Pros:Open people and activity
- Cons:Tough to make a living
- In a nutshell:Wish I was home
Reviews (10)
Hand Carved Teak
Shopping
(1)
Solid teak furniture and stools more travel advice
Scooter Taxis
Transportation
(2)
The traffic on the main drag is CRAZY and I don't think it would be pleasant on the side roads when there's rain. My... more travel advice
Dressing
What to Pack
(2)
It's sandy everywhere and most of the women/girls I saw wore flip flops. I like sandals with a bit of height since the... more travel advice
Everyone Dances
Nightlife
(1)
It's dark, very dark--luckily the host showed us to our seats near the dance floor. Good size dance floor was always... more travel advice
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Comments (7)
You just havent lived until you've been drunk and lost in coutounou on a taxi bike with no french to your name. Did you know you can get three people and a big bottle of LPG on Mr Hondas cub 90?
Nice to read your page ! A part of the year to live near Cotonou, sounds wonderful. Yes I had a great trip.
Nice page and pictures.
VERY NICE AND GREAT START GO ON DONT STOP I LIKE THIS PAGE :o)
Great page & info !
exciting country, I guess! great restaurant tips!
Beautiful page: good info
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