unwelcomed visitor...

Karin and I had a bit of an unwelcomed visitor who forced their way into our locked hotel room last Saturday. Unfortunately this person decided to help themselves to about 300 dollars and all my chargers and cables, Karins perfume and various other really random stuff. More frustrating than anything else, although im not sure we will get all the money back from the insurance company, it was just such a shame that our impression of Benin had been scarred by this one theif. It also made for a few interesting and challening conversations with the police and others in French, trying to explain what happened.

Anyway, with more money in our hands with the help of my VISA card we should be able to carry on unaffected with the rest of the trip, if only on a tighter budget than before! So we are now in Northern Togo. We visited some traditional houses of the Tata Somba people yesterday which felt very remote and historic. They live in mud houses that are like mini fortresses with their herds and crops on the ground floor and the family live upstairs.

Today, we have been lucky enough to coincide with an annual festival in Kara, the capital of the North. It is the Evala Festival which celebrates local men "coming of age" by many wrestling matches taking place. Even the president of Togo himself was there to watch the goings on. Sorry I cannot post any photos, the burgular stole my cable!

Tomorrow we are heading back to Ghana, and ENGLISH, which we are obviously looking forward to. Although I am very proud to say that my French has improved tremendously. It is such a satisfying feeling when you realise you have spent a whole afternoon conversing with some french tourists or a museum guide in french and have understood most, if not all.

Finally, i just wanted to say Congratulations to Alastair and Sue who have a new baby boy. I wish you all the best in settling into your new life as parents of two!! much love xx