Day 139: Nearby Lac Togo (Togo) – Grand Popo (Benin)

Thanks again to our two hosts – we had a wonderful stay here.

Even today we are only moving a few kilometers – from Lac Togo to the border and to Grand Popo in Benin. We are in a phase of small steps.

The border is one of the most annoying recently. Slightly unfriendly people in uniform. Unclear process. No signage. Construction sites. Intrusive “pushers” who want to show you the way, offer money exchange and SIM cards. And above all: you have to write down all the data again and again.

After “Mom” made it clear that she can't stand it when guys get too close to her, only two guys are left, who did accompany us for almost an hour – in order to end up with a SIM card each to sell to us for 5,000 CFA (7.60 for 1 GB).

Grand Popo is a small, sleepy-looking beach resort without much infrastructure. The Awalè has seen better days and the space for us is not the best. Nevertheless: We stay here because it's shady, there's electricity (our power station is now going completely crazy) and Andrea, who we want to meet here, lives nearby.

We know Andrea from the Eppendorf weekly market and we had a very pleasant afternoon chatting.