I was able to get a few days off with a couple of really cool girls, Charissa and Becky, and the three of us decided to fly to the capital city of Brazzaville. I had to work Sunday morning and got off work around 3:30, at 4 that same afternoon we were headed to the airport. The flight itself was only 45 minutes long, but I still felt like it was a long day and was ready for bed at an earlier than usual hour.
Monday:
Two of us slept in a little bit on Monday morning before we started the days adventure. That day we were hoping to rent a vehicle and driver to visit Loufoulakari Falls. The driver at the Hotel Bravo was busy that day, but would be able to take us Tuesday.
Instead we went to see the sights is Brazzaville that we wanted to check out. Now, Becky knows some French, but Roga came with us to help translate and show around. Roga was on of the translators for Mercy Ships, but he left to attend school in Brazzaville, but was kind enough to spend the day with us.
Our first stop Monday morning was to see the rapids on the Congo River right outside the city.
After spending some time at Les Rapides we were hoping to find a place where we would be able to rent a boat...how cool would it be to have a boat ride on the Congo River?!! Well, there also happens to be a restaurant that has boats and drivers you can rent. Off we go to the other side of town in search of this place.
Well, we got a taxi and everything was going just fine...until traffic came to a complete stop. It was going nowhere, and so we sat.
Now, you may be thinking okay, normal traffic jam. There were five people packed into the car in the middle of the day. The sun was hot and not a breeze to be had...if I was made of wax I would no longer be in existence. Finally, traffic started moving again and we eventually made it to our destination. At this point we are so thirsty, so we stop at the lounge area of the restaurant for a nice cold drink of Coca Cola. It tasted so good!!!
After we finished our drinks, we climbed into our boat...another dugout canoe with a motor on the back.
At one point, our driver slowed down and stopped at an island. On this island in the middle of the river we found a village, the driver told us that we could walk around and so we did. It was actually lots of fun, because we started to play with the kids.
Many of the older kids were very curious about us, but were to scared to get close. It was the first time they had ever seen a white person. They would want to get close and touch you, but at the same time they were scared. It was fun just to interact with them. Later we found out that it was our boat drivers village.
We left the village and headed back to the restaurant. The scenery along the river was beautiful!
After we got back to the restaurant we got into yet another taxi, and went up to the Basilique St. Anne. It's a beautiful church, with amazing architecture.
We finished walking about here, we walked through the streets and up to a painting school. The paintings were really good, high quality. Of course, we couldn't take pictures but it was really nice to walk around and enjoy the different techniques and textures of the paintings.
By the time we finished with that, we decided it was time to eat dinner. Off we went to a very popular local cafe. Dinner was good, and since it was also a French bakery we got dessert to go and croissants for breakfast the next morning.
That night, we ate dessert back at the hotel and played skip-bo on the patio until going to bed. It was a good first day.
Tuesday:
The next morning it was an early start to the day. At 7 a.m. we were on the road to Loufoulakari Falls. It was 100 kilometers round trip, but we were driving on dirt roads for the most of it.
After a 2 hour car ride we finally made it to Loufoulakari Falls where we stayed for 2 hours, then had another 2 hour drive back to Hotel Bravo.
After going back to the hotel we showered and changed before going out to have a nice dinner and watch the sunset.
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| Hotel Bravo and one of the 4 wheel drive vehicles. |
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| Melissa is another guest who was there, then there is the couple who manages the house, her sister, and Roga. This picture was taken in the kitchen of the house, right before we started making our dinner Sunday night. |
Monday:
Two of us slept in a little bit on Monday morning before we started the days adventure. That day we were hoping to rent a vehicle and driver to visit Loufoulakari Falls. The driver at the Hotel Bravo was busy that day, but would be able to take us Tuesday.
Instead we went to see the sights is Brazzaville that we wanted to check out. Now, Becky knows some French, but Roga came with us to help translate and show around. Roga was on of the translators for Mercy Ships, but he left to attend school in Brazzaville, but was kind enough to spend the day with us.
Our first stop Monday morning was to see the rapids on the Congo River right outside the city.
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| Charissa, Becky and I |
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| Roga and I are watching the rapids and looking across the river and Kinshasa. |
Well, we got a taxi and everything was going just fine...until traffic came to a complete stop. It was going nowhere, and so we sat.
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| People finally started getting out of the cars and standing in the shade!! |
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| I had a moment where I started playing with my camera...there were lizards around that area sunbathing...this one was right by us, just chilling in the sun |
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| Roga standing at the front of the boat. |
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| We were required to wear these lovely bright orange, one size fits all life jackets...I guess it was for our safety. We stayed in the boat and out of the water. |
At one point, our driver slowed down and stopped at an island. On this island in the middle of the river we found a village, the driver told us that we could walk around and so we did. It was actually lots of fun, because we started to play with the kids.
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| Standing in the Kiterielle village square. |
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| Becky and the kids. |
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| This little girl started walking beside me and so I reached out my hand and she grabbed it, so we walked hand in hand. |
We left the village and headed back to the restaurant. The scenery along the river was beautiful!
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| Trees, grass, it was all so green. |
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| A view of Kinshasa (capital of DRC) from our river trip. |
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| Basilique St. Anne |
By the time we finished with that, we decided it was time to eat dinner. Off we went to a very popular local cafe. Dinner was good, and since it was also a French bakery we got dessert to go and croissants for breakfast the next morning.
That night, we ate dessert back at the hotel and played skip-bo on the patio until going to bed. It was a good first day.
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| It was such an intense several games.... |
The next morning it was an early start to the day. At 7 a.m. we were on the road to Loufoulakari Falls. It was 100 kilometers round trip, but we were driving on dirt roads for the most of it.
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| We passed many houses and people, this was a small market that we drove passed. |
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| Then there were areas that all you saw was the road and lush green landscape. |
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| Loufoulakari Falls: all I can say is how awesome is God and his creation! |
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| At the top of the falls |
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| Being just a little goofy...we were trying to get a group photo just prior to this picture and the branch kept getting in the way. |
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| Sitting and watching the falls |
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| The falls are 'U' shaped and this lone tree on a rock was at the very edge of the falls. |
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| We are standing in the mist from the falls and ended up getting wet |
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| We hiked down to the base of the falls and this is a view of the river from there. |
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| At the top of the falls, it was breathtaking!! |
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| Walking through the craft market on the way to dinner. |
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| The Brazzaville Monument. |
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| The sunset! |
Looks like great fun.... how did you do food wise? :o)
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