I spent the last days in Abidjan exploring more of the city and revisiting a few of my favorite cafes. I am continually struck by the huge variance in building design and usage everywhere.

Before returning to Abidjan, I took a local taxi to Assinie in the east of Cote D’Ivoire. It lies close to the Ghanian border. It’s also the place where expansive resorts have been developed along the side of the water all along the slither of land at the end of which sits the settlements.

I had the opportunity this morning to meet a member of a film crew producing a documentary about the Cocoa industry in Cote D’Ivoire. We were joined by Charlie, an intern for one of the few chocolatiers in the country that is trying to model new practices to provide a fair wage to workers along with sustainable farming methods.

I was back on track and took a taxi to the Adjame Gare Routier. As I’d expected life does exist in this city - it’s vibrant and busy around this area. There are numerous market stalls, people traveling to many destinations and a well developed network of buses to take.

I created a plan of places to see and visit today. Nothing happened as expected! This is life in Africa.

Abidjan is sooooo different from Monrovia. It’s modern, clean, calm and everyone seems to travel in a vehicle. I see few pavements or people walking. le Plateaux, where I stay is dead - full of sky high buildings, admin. offices and quiet.