. OnHiatus.com > Journal 1 > Day Index > Journal Entry: December 16, 1998
Wednesday, December 16, 1998
Aného, Togo to Outside Cotonou, Benin
Togo's FlagBenin's FlagCotonou's Flag
Map
Outside Cotonou, Benin:
Latitude: 6° 22' 58" North
Longitude: 2° 20' 13" East
Altitude: 185 feet
From Seattle: 8273 miles
Lodging: Camp - Camping Ma Campagne
Map
Today's Travel:
Countries: Togo, Benin
Regions: Coastal Togo, Cotonou
Route: Land Rover: Aného - Grand Popo - Ouidah - Cotonou
Start: Aného, Togo
Stop 1. Ouidah
End:Outside Cotonou, Benin
Linear:51 miles
Weather: Overcast
Available Photos:

Memorial sculpture at the quot;Door of No Return" Ouidah, Benin

Misty afternoon at the beach Ouidah, Benin

Me hitching in sand truck Ouidah, Benin

All photo images © 1997-2000 Anthony Jones - Images may not be used without prior written approval.
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Map
Trip Stats to Date:
Day: 615
Linear Dist: 85951
Countries Visited: 44
Regions Visited: 175
More stats...
Hotels: 188
Friends / Family: 155
Camping: 65
Hostels: 145
Transit: 55
Other Lodging: 6
Beers: 2131
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Journal Entry:
Breakfast (fresh bread), on the road reasonably early, border not to bad - just the usual four stop bureaucracy. We stopped at Ouidah to do the 4km hike the Route de Eslave - the road that the slaves were forced to walk from Ouidah to the coast. The road has several fetishes and it was claimed in the guide book that there was a European fort at the beach. The fetishes were mostly new cement statues (dated 1992) and not all that interesting. We never found the fort, but there was some pretty powerful modern sculptures at a memorial (The Door of No Return) and the beach was beautiful in the haze. We weren't looking forward to the hour walk back but we managed to hitch a ride in the back of a truck - on top of it's load of sand - it was a great way to travel, all we needed were the beach chairs... unfortunately the ride in the back of the truck was the highlight of our visit to Ouidah.

Got into the dive campground / compound 15km outside of Cotonou around dusk. Made diner and spent the evening hanging out.

Related Sites:
US State Department ConsularInformation Sheets: Benin
CIA World Fact Book: Benin
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