Andrew Cairns Articles

African Anecdotes #8: Welcome To Abidjan – The Real Capital – Abidjan, South Africa

Despite what you might read in guidebooks about Abidjan being the pearl of West Africa, it is more or less just a big dirty, smelly, polluted, rubbish-strewn, crime-ridden shit-hole of a city.

African Anecdotes #3: Let’s Eat – Ivory Coast, South Africa

A lot of the stereotypes about Africans eating snakes, lizards and insects were not lived up to. However, there were some more interesting items, like squirrels and large rats.

African Anecdotes #4: Welcome To Ottawa – Population 300 – South Africa

The actual name of the village is Guedyo, but the Canadian ambassador had supposedly visited the village and filmed it after the name was changed.

African Anecdotes #5: San Pedro, San Pedro! – South Africa

San Pedro has it’s charm. The whole place seemed to have a breathtaking, and magical aura about it.

African Anecdotes #2: Show Me The Money – Ivory Coast, South Africa

Change and money in general is a big hassle in Ivory Coast. Whether it be the banks’ opening hours, giving exact change for small items or the lack of credit card facilities.

African Anecdotes #1: Planes, Trains and Automobiles – Ivory Coast, South Africa

Transport, like most things in Ivory Coast, is an experience. There are a lot of surprises – but not all of them bad.

African Anecdotes #6: Welcome To Gnatroa – Population 300 (or so)

There was a funeral in the village and all the women took part in the ‘dance of death’.

African Anecdotes #7: Welcome To Yamoussoukro – The Capital – South Africa

Yamoussoukro is the administrative capital and one of the nicer Ivorian towns with its greenery and lakes. Any visit must include a trip to the Notre Dame de la Paix Basilica.