Day 172: Dimonica ­– Pointe Noire

We leave today before the big banquet begins on the occasion of the bishop's visit here. 

As we drive through the village of Dimonika, we think again that a 1:1 western or a film about the gold rush could actually be shot here. Wooden huts with goods, wood fires and barbecue areas, people with shovels, “hawkers”, everything is there. Very special. Only the protagonists would have a different skin color.

It's around 160 km to Pointe Noire, where we want to stay for two more nights to wash, book flights (!) and do some research. And as good as the roads have been so far, the entry into the city is sobering on roads with deep potholes, almost ditches. 

We stay at the Brasserie de la mere, actually a beach bar with a parking lot. The operator, Pascal, is nice and lets us park for free if we eat in the restaurant. Everything is fine, but showering is a bit difficult because it's very public. 

In the afternoon there will be a violent thunderstorm with squalls and heavy rain. If it's like this all the time during the rainy season, you don't want to be here. It doesn't bother us, we spend the rest of the day relaxed and dry.