change

traveling has always been a good antidote for heartache

i took a window seat for the flight out of brazza, looking down knowing that i will probably never be back, thinking about the people that i cared about down there

but about 15 minutes after landing in cotonou i was on the back of a zemijon/motorbike taxi zipping thru the traffic with a big smile on my face

and the questions have already started, so i am a married christian woman traveling to senegal to meet my canadian husband - we don't have any kids, but i can always change that part

this morning went to the niger embassy to get a visa, then to a cyber cafe to pay online for my fantasy desert trip to the ténéré - "the most beautiful desert in the world" - but i got a prompt reply... they had to cancel the trip yesterday

it has always been an insecure area, but recently more so (wonder if paula will alter her route)

bummer - i guess i will have to wait for my dreamy desert expedition, but it means i move thru benin at a more leisurely pace... and so i need money

i spent the rest of the day trying to get some. turns out that a VISA card isn't as handy as in the past. you have to use the machines and i do not have a PIN code. there may be only one place in the country that will give a cash advance over the counter - not good news

can somebody check with CIBC and see if it is possible to get a PIN from afar?

going bank to bank i passed a travel agent so i went in hoping to get info on the bus schedule to abomey

the pretty young thing behind the counter said that planes don' t go to abomey. i said i didn't want to take a plane, that i want to take a bus

why do you want to take a bus?

because planes don't go there

oh, who is going with you?

no one, i will go alone

if you are alone why do you want to take a bus, why not take a taxi?

yes, i could take a taxi but i am interested in the bus schedule anyway

it isn't possible to take a bus if you are alone

i was starting to get a little irritated. why can't i take a bus in this country if i am alone??

a few more questions and i realized that she couldn't give me the info i was looking for, but she could arrange for me to charter a bus

my fault - i wouldn't walk into a travel agent back home and expect to get the greyhound schedule

day 2 and already the fun has started, and the plans have changed

i will head west into togo, and save niger for later along the way ... maybe