[ Kara, Togo ]
Well, it’s finally here: Kara, and Togo itself, will soon be in my rear-view mirror. Or it would be if I had one.
Many of you know I planned to roll out of here some days ago. None of you know I was instead delayed by the Benin government’s eVisa website–which was down for several days–or that I met nearly a quarter of Togo’s Peace Corps contingency over the course of the past week.
The former setback cleared up in the wee hours of Thursday morning when Benin’s website came back online. The latter “setback” ended late this afternoon, when the final remnants of the Peace Corps contingent dispersed, home to their respective villages. In reality it was a boon of the highest order to meet these engaged and thoughtful folks–and to meet them when I was desperate for some deep, extended conversations that weren’t limited by my atrocious French.
[If any of you PC Invaders are out there, THANK YOU! It was my great pleasure getting to know you. I am…BIKER JIM!!! <cough> Talkin’ to you, Emily. <cough>]
And so, with the bike fully loaded, new bearings in the rear wheel, a visa in hand, and only 18 miles (30 kilometers) between me and my first Beninese port of call, I thought I’d drop a final handful of homeless images from my time in Kara.
Namaste, and peace out chers Transglobalistas,
—moi