The airport "terminal" of N'kayi, right off a dirt runway in the middle of sugar cane fields
Some of the passengers' special luggage
The baggage handlers with the Russian-built plane in the background
Taking these pictures once again got me into trouble with the authorities...
Selling engine oil
The main "highway" linking Brazzaville to the south of the country, not improved in years (deliberately) by the ruling party, who are from the north. The 20 mile journey from N'Kayi to Madingou took us over 3 hours, with terrible road conditions and at one point having to push the vehicle past some deep mud
Our first night in Madingou. We purchased a piece of foam and the three of us (Bernard, Pascal and I) slept shoulder to shoulder through the hot, humid night (Pascal got the middle, ha ha!)
Francois' house in Madingou
Madingou's hospital
Most of us are used to things getting better over time. In much of Africa it's the opposite. Four civil wars in 12 years have gutted Congo's infrastructure and standard of living, and most people and places (this gas station included) are far worse off than before.
Madingou's police chief and family
The police chief was very gracious and invited us to lunch at his house (below)
Selling manoc in the market
We saw very few cats and dogs in the Congo. That's because they used to eat the dead during the war, so they were hunted and eaten instead.
A typical arrangement: one door for the outhouse, the other for showering (with bucket and pitcher, of course--there's no running water)
