Up the creek (without a paddle)!

Ace Blog Karen...Nice to get the history of the place as well no matter how unpleasant.

Oh wow what wonderful blog Karen! So nice to go with you on that wee journey..looks idyllic! The poeple all seem really friendly too. I;d also love to see that markets you go to.
thanks for the trip! :)

Well you can drop me off for a couple of months if you want, actually make that three : )
Lovely place, thanks for the blog n great pics. Really gives a sense of how lovely the place is. I love exploring the real cultures of places. and just look at that street, no litter there and the village is so neat and tidy.

yeah i noticed that too Stevie!

we're just savages compared to them and we dream all our lives of a view like that..bonkers aren't we

totally!

Thank you Pimpernel, Pixi and Stevie!
This is real life in West Africa, which we never seem get to hear about in Europe...

You are so right...the villages are very clean and the villagers are so friendly and welcoming. And it's all bringing revenue to the community...

It's a real shame about all the plastic debris which is washed up on the beaches every day, though. There's not much that they can do about that... :(

Really enjoyed that Karen, thank you.

Thank you Cinders...I'm lucky to be in a position to experience and share it :)

Hi J! They do seem to be genuinely happy. Also helpful - if anyone breaks down on the water, one of the villagers will be there immediately to help out.

Cooking is all barbecue...cooked for you whenever you want it (those goat sausages yesterday!)

Maybe, I'll get around to painting it - one day! lol!

what a wonderful blog karen, thank you! its just fascinating to see from your beautiful photos just how life really is there.
those children are just gorgeous!
thank you so much for taking me with you on your amazing trip, i have put it on my favourites so i can go on the trip again and again

I'm so glad you liked it, Sticki! Wee Mary is a darling...I've promised to teach her how to swim, next time she's back. Her father works in Lagos but she, her mother and her brother were just visiting a while.

Nigeria gets some pretty bad press...but it's nice to show that it's not all like that... :)

Aw thats nice of you she looks cute :)

Thank you for that Karen...it was lovely. I particularly enjoyed seeing the children and the villagers waving you off. It must be quite an adventure...I hope you are enjoying it. Are there any dangerous creatures in the creek? Crocodiles? Pirhanas? Nessie? you know what I mean! :)) p.s. I love the lizards!

What a lovely blog, and a wonderful place to live. It's nice to see different countries, and ways of living.

Aw, Pixi - she's lovely. She so wanted to go into the pool - but was so scared! We managed up to her waist this time - as long as I promised not to let her go! :)

Thank you both, KS and Hywel! As I say, it's a side you don't get to see very often...apart from in 'tourist' Africa.

KS - thankfully there are no crocs, sharks or pirhanas! Phew!! There are catfish and (tho' I wish they hadn't) someone told me that there are sometimes barracuda in the creek since it goes back into the ocean somewhere after Benin!

Lovely blog Karen, I enjoyed having a look around and learning a bit of their history.
Lovely photo`s as well, thakyou for sharing...

Thank you, Lincslass :)

The history of how the slaves came to be sold was a bit of a surprise to me. I had always thought that the Europeans had rounded people up and stolen them away...

Now I'm wondering if this is where the expression 'sold down the creek' may have come from...

Gorgeous blog Karen....I was there with you :)
Little Mary was a wee cutie!
Looks just like my SIL's village - I spent 8 days there - was the best time ever.
The kids put our lot too shame - never bored and never moaning about having to do things!
It's amazing how different things are once you get out of the cities..isn't it?
Never knew that about the slavery trade either - I always thought the same as you - too many tv shows I think.

Hi Scottish and thank you.

You are so right! The children play and laugh - but I think that they call ALL their dogs 'Elvis'! lol!

Lagos is not like this...but this is only 20 minutes up the creek!

I agree, too many TV shows and too many news programmes which only show 'bad news'...

Amazing blog Karen! So nice to see and have misperceptions corrected.
Any special plans for tomorrow?? :0

Thanks Lil and........maybe (don't know what tho').......! ;)

Fantasic blog, thanks for sharing it. :o)

Aw bless her wee socks!

A most enlightening blog, what a wonderful experience for you.

Hi Plantoholic and Dottydaisy and thank you both!
It is a beautiful trip up the creek and quite unlike anything I expected...

Yesterday, I had a very different journey by road...gridlocked traffic all the way!!!

yikes!

Same thing today...

Oh,that looks just idyllic,Karen..loved it all..and those children are just beautiful..happy little faces..I do hope Mary manages to learn to swim! :o)

All the villagers are nice people, Bloomer :)
...and beginning to realise just how lucky they are...you've seen now what the city is like!
Paved with gold?? lol!