Ouidah

Today I went to Ouidah. This place is known for the place of were slaves departed for the New World.

We started out this morning at 830am. As soon as we met our driver he told us that there was a mechanical problem and that he had to stop by the mechanic but it shouldn't be long. I was sitting in the front seat praying that we would get in a wreck because the car is trying to die and there are zemijons and other cars all over the place.

We pull into the parking lot of the football stadium. The mechanic pulls up a few minutes later on a motor bike with the parts. After a little while our driver realizes that it is going to take a long time to fix so he calls one of his friends. This old man who doesn't speak english at all comes. His car looks like it is on its last leg. Do roll up the window we had to use an old window handle that had fallen off.

This was the first time I had been out of Cotonou, so we took the "big main road" out of town and it was crowded. I thought driving in Costa Rica was bad, they had designated lanes, here lanes don't exist. There is not paint on the road.

About an hour and a half later, we made it to Ouidah in one piece.

Our first stop was a Portuguese fort that was turned into a museum. We had a guide who could speak english so he translated everything for us. The museum was interesting for the following reasons: how the lack of preservation there was - nothing labeled like back home or electricity for that matter; we saw actual chains that they would put around the people neck and it would go in the slaves mouth - both for adults and kids; I was standing in an old fort where slaves were. Apparently the Portuguese, French and a few others had forts in Ouidah. The slaves use to sleep outside in the middle of the fort, this is kind of where their journey would begin.

Next we walked about 4km along this pathway that the slaves took. They started in an area where they were bought and sold them. The slaves would continue down this path. They were putt in this cell for weeks at a time where they wouldn't see daylight. I think it was to mentally break them down. Then if they weren't fit enough for the journey they would just kill them. They would pass this tree of No Return. The men and women would circle it several times which was to help them forget about home, forget about Africa. At the end of the walk there is a monument that the city built in 1992.

The journey didn't necessarily have that many amazing things to see, it was mostly statues. However walking the same walk that slaves did a few hundred years ago was heart breaking. When we came up the The Place of No Return Monument all you see is the ocean that goes on forever and I thought how terrifying that must be. The slaves knew nothing about this new world, they were beaten and living in horrible conditions. It is a walk I won't ever forget.

After that we had planned to go to Casa del Papa which is hotel that is on a nice beach. The problem was that is was 7km away and we only had 3 hours before our ride came and picked us up. So we decided to ride a zemijon, which is a motor bike taxi. Motorcycles, motor bikes, scare me at home, let alone here. Here the drivers don't wear goggles or helmets and they drive like crazy so I am terrified. I got on the bike with one other girl from my group. The ride was pretty but I was terrified the whole time. We were riding on a dirt road that ran along the beach front. I made it in one piece!! I am sure I will never do it again - once was enough for me.

We got to the hotel and had some cokes. Then we walked along the beach. We stood by the water and the current was strong. The rip tides are super strong here. As we walked a little further we came up upon this group of fishermen who were carrying the largest fishing net I have ever seen. There had to be 10 men carrying it. A little later they were moving this big wooden boat up to shore. So as we were walking back they asked if we would help them and we did. It was amazing to see these men work together to get this very heavy boat up to shore. What also impressed me was that these men go out to sea with just a wooden boat and oars, no motor on it what so ever.

We went back into town. Our driver took us to the Python temple. One of the gods is a python. They make all these sacrifices to it. It is strange to me. The guide at the temple put the snake around my neck!! Terrifying. I hate snakes!! I have a picture as proof.

Right across the street is a catholic church that Pope John Paul II spoke at. During the popes time there some voodoo person came up to him and said he was the most magical man he has ever seen.

That was my day - two terrifying things in one day is enough for me!