Gabon- Libreville_Jimmy

Blog 26-09-2011 Gabon- Libreville –Jimmy

Stefanus and Jimmy in front of his apartment 

hans made contact with jimmy on email long before we reached Libreville.  He spelt out all our needs: Dentist, Doctor, Cars repairs, South African Embassy, the Angola and Brazzaville Congo as well as Congo Embassy. One thing all of us agree to is that Hans is really a organizer. He uses all his expertise to make contact with people before we enter. He will never place the lives of his Safari members at risk. He knows about the security conditions, he gets people to assist us and make it easier. I must stress it once again, Africa is a tough country. Soon you will run in big problems if you do not have a clued-up leader. Many groups who tried to do this trip had to wait weeks for visas.  Some even had to fly back to South Africa to get them.  Hans we can really recommend you as a leader. 

Jimmy’s apartment was like a safe haven for us. We all were really appreciating the normal things in a house. If you live with your whole house, kitchen, bedroom, lounge, bathroom in the space of one vehicle, then you realise how privileged we are with a normal home.   Now you realise how easy this equipment make our lives; washing machine, tumble dryers, and a shower with hot water coming out of a tap.

We all had a major cleaning up. The linen needed a serious washing. Our clothes were hand washed all the time and not getting really dry because of the extremely high humidity. So this was so nice, to smell the cleanest of stay-soft and dry washing.

The flat screen TV with DSTV was a real treat for the boys. They were catching up with the rugby.  The world cup was may be half way and they haven’t seen one match. So they were stagnant in front of the flat screen.  They deserve to relax, after the hard driving.

Meanwhile Jimmy was organizing all the appointment. He even made time to take Hans to the garage. He took Elisme to the office to work on her emails.

Monday evening Jimmy did a fillet steak braai, what a treat for us. He invited Willem and marjolein, they are from Holland and work here in the French army. Willem is the Dutch representative. Coen and Shanhaz are  sleeping at their place.

Tuesday morning 27 September started with all the parties getting ready to do all the damage control. Hans was trying to sort out our medical insurance to pay for the Dentist, but as with all insurance it was not so easy. Hans must pay, get all the proof and then when we are back in South Africa he can claim. I wonder what  the use of insurance is. You must always first pay then they will consider. What does people do that thinks the insurance will help.

Willem the Dutch Officer helping the boys

The South African Embassy was on the list too. They need a letter of introduction to Brazzaville and Congo. The Exit date on the Anglo Visas is wrong. They need to change it. There for they will need a motivation.

Today was Shanhaz’ birthday. We planned to do a paella, this will be an all-nation Paella. Cray fish from  Ghana {green turtle bay}  in Benin at grand popo the prawns. In Accra we bought sole and sea food mix with calamari.  Jimmy contributed some more prawns from Libreville. The rice is coming from Songhai village in  benin. The spices are coming still from morocco. Now if this is not a multi nations  paella, then please tell me what is?

Mariana was doing a beautiful table setting. Elisme was doing the Paella. The pudding was really making a wow entrance. It consisted of ice cream, lemon meringue, Swiss chocolate sauce and chocolate fingers. What do you ask: the cfa or the calories?  

Wednesday morning early Hans had to get up. He must take the Land Rover to the Garage. Here it is not a problem to wake up. In the middle of Libreville we have a cock crowing when we go to bed and starting long before day break. Then we have 2 trees outside the bathroom window,. Every branch of the trees has 3 weaver nests, I don’t know how many weavers but they sound like the drakensberg boys choir.

Marjolein took Mariana and shanhaz on a shopping outing. Mariana said this was really an experience. Marjolein knows exactly what to buy where. She looks for the best quality at each shop. Therefore she goes to different shops: fish and vegetables at the one, wine and cheese at the next, but it takes you a morning to do your shopping, driving to all the shops. Mariana says the layout of these shops is like Woolworths in SA. The only thing is; everything is imported and very expensive. She says it was really very unexpected to have such upper class shops in these neighbourhoods. You can get anything here in Libreville at a price. A brown bread cost 2000CFA [R32} Put that in your pocket and smoke it. May be we must start appreciating South Africa for what we have.

The girls really appreciated Marjolein’s time and advice. They will have nice shopping memories of Libreville.

Elisme was resizing photos and enjoying the soft rain. This is so special for her; it rains constantly, but no thunder just soft rain.
the rest of Gabon soon.