Day 3 - Yaounde

January 9, 2011

Day started out cool. Went for a walk with Meriam (volunteer from Montreal). She was at Squid training in Ottawa where she continually wound up balls of wool. We were looking for the VSO office and got lost. On the way back we met a strange man dressed in traditional African garb. He kept telling me he could see in my face I have a good heart and that much luck would come to me. I guess he didn’t know about my luggage. Finally he tried to hit me up for a donation. We thanked him didn't give him donation and walked away back to the hotel.

Market not busy on a Sunday. Lots of people in Sunday best African clothes (very colourful).

Later on went for a walk to find an outside restaurant with the French Canadian contingent of volunteers (Jean-Marie and his wife Dianne, Ayline, Huguette and Helene. Found a small outside restaurant next to a bakery. Had a Sable cookie, fish and a gelatinous substance made from the root of the Manioc.

The manioc is ground up to a powder and then is made into a pasta. It is served everywhere in Yaounde (not much taste but great with a hot sauce.

Set on a quest by myself to find the Expresso Cafe (Internet Cafe). Had a piece of fresh pineapple along the way. Amazing - cool and sweet. Trek to the Expresso Cafe not so cool and sweet. Sun is high and hot. Memo to myself - stay out of the sun between 1:00 to 3:00. Made it to the Cafe hot and exhausted. Had a cool bottle of water and an Americano cafe. Used the internet and relaxed. Trip back to the hotel a lot easier, downhill and no blazing sun. Back at the hotel collapsed on the bed. Afternoon siesta time.

Supper with English volunteers (Hafren, Mags and Rosey) Dutch Volunteers (Muns, Han, Florian and Mira). Had crevettes (baby shrimps) and plantain. Yummy but extremely small portion. Back at the hotel Muns lent me 2 T-shirts. Yea I have a new wardrobe. Sure hope my baggage arrives soon.