DAY 129---ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST

 

This shows where we are "finally" docked today.  It is cloudy, 85 degrees, and 70% humidity at noon.    

               This map shows where we are in the world and the rest of our route to Barcelona.  

Historical/Background Info:

        This is another new port of call for us.  Abidjan is actually in the country of Cote d’Lvoire (population 27 million) but who’s heard of that.  More commonly it is referred to as The Ivory Coast.  So, Abidjan is the economic capital of the Ivory Coast and one of the most populous French speaking cities in Africa with a population here of nearly 6.3 million which is 20% of the overall country’s population. Major industries are food processing, lumber, automobile manufacturing, textiles, chemicals, and soaps.  Exports include: coffee, cocoa, timber, bananas, pineapples, and manganese. There is also a large oil refinery here. Poverty is also high here also.

LAST EVENING

      Our Caesar salads with dressing on the side so I could add tabasco.  Six anchovies for me!

                                                              I loved this Cline zinfandel.           

Our La Crema and the Cline.

        I had the photo of what I wanted on my phone so had Benji take it back to show the chef.  He did a wonderful job of making what I wanted.  Too much marinara sauce for Rebecca.

A beehive of activity every night at the bus station for the waitresses.

Apple tart with vanilla ice cream.  I just ate half.

TODAY

        We were to be docked by 7am in Abidjan.  A little after 7:00 Captain Abhi made a PA saying the local officials were not letting us dock here and was to have a meeting at 8am to decide if we will be allowed in today and under what conditions.  I assume it is because of the covid cases we now have on board (what the ship is calling "respiratory issues").

        At about 7:45 the Captain said west had been cleared to dock but waiting on the pilot to come on board. So we started to slowly proceed.  Still no pilot or sign of one coming so entered another holding pattern 7 nautical miles from Abidjan.  

        At 9:20 the Captain made another PA saying the pilot was coming in the next 15 minutes and he hoped to be docked by 10:45 or 11:00 at the latest.  There are only two different tours available today and one is 7 1/2 hours and the other 6 3/4 hours.  Planned sailing time today is 4pm so obviously with this nearly 4 hour delay on docking those tours will have to me cut back and our departure probably delayed too.

        It was cloudy this morning and 78 degrees with 80% humidity so I decided to go up to the track on deck 12 to do my fast walking.  I went up at 8:10 so was finished at 9:10 as I wanted to take the shuttle into town this morning.

                       There were several small fishing boats outside the harbor as we sailed in.

 

                          Sailing in the channel to the harbor.  Waves breaking on the entrance.

        Doubt you can see it but the harbor is very dirty and water full of floating garbage.  YUK!  It is absolutely gross.  Appears the city dump is floating here as lots of plastic bottles and even shoes.

                                                  More garbage.  Everything but a dead body.

           Large ocean fishing boats anchored in the harbor.  They go out for weeks at a time.

                                   Just inside the harbor were the small fishing boats tied up.

                                                   Garbage along the pier as we docked.

Several armed police/military on the pier today.

                                   Buses lining up as we docked.  They appear to be nice buses.

        Large cargo ships unloading something.  Guide on the shuttle said both ships unloading rice.  Yellow sacks from one on right and red sacks from one on the left, further out as the ships came from different countries.  The guide said they cannot grow rice but it's a big part of their diet.  Big sandy area off the piers.

                                                           More cargo ships in distance.

After lunch I caught the 12:30 shuttle to town.  The shuttle was full of passengers and some crew.  This is their Independence Memorial, according to the shuttle guide.

        The shuttle drop off was just by this pharmacy.  That is exactly what I was looking for.  I bought two 250mg Z-pacs for $11 total.  I was hoping to take the same shuttle back but it left early.  It was a VERY nice pharmacy and personnel very friendly.

                                                        Woman's dress is very colorful.

        There was a park across from drop off but there were no cross-walks on the street corners so I was afraid to go there.

                                  I want you all to try walking with a big tub on your head!

                                         Interesting tree.  Not sure if it was dead or alive.

                                                                    Huge grocery store

    The blue building is there Presidential and ministers building where the government is run.

        I was back on the ship around 1:30 and working on this blog post.  Rebecca is napping after watching her soaps.

MY IMPRESSION OF ABIDJAN

        When I stepped off the gangway to catch the shuttle there was a horrible smell on the pier.  Same really bad smell when I returned.  The city center was fairly modern and nice but I'm sure there were many slum areas around the city.  Surprisingly the streets and sidewalks were clean.  Lots of traffic and lots of people on the streets.  All dressed well and clean.  No one was wearing masks except in the pharmacy.  They were not hawking souvenirs like past few ports and did not bother us lighter colored skin folks.  I felt safe.  My very big issue with this place is all the garbage floating around in the harbor.  It's disgusting!!!  That said I would not like to come back here.

        We will be meeting our friends: Pat, Mary, and Abby in the Mariner Lounge for margaritas (chardonnay for Rebecca) around 5:45.  I have requested a special Mexican food dinner for the 5 of us in Compass Rose for tonight.  Tacos, fajitas, guacamole, salsa, pico de gallo, pickled jalapenos, refried beans, Spanish rice, sour cream, cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, chips, taco shells, flour tortillas, etc.  For dessert Tres Leche cake.  Should be fun time.  The headliner entertainer tonight is a comedy illusionist, Ruben Vilagrand.  May go to the show.

        We will be sailing at 5pm (an hour later than originally planned due to the late arrival.  We have two sea days ahead of us.