Crocodiles

So I've made it safely to Yamoussoukro. Yamoussoukro is interesting... It is the birth place of Cote d'Ivoire's first president, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who was in office for 33 years. He made the city the capital of Cote d'Ivoire and proceeded to build a huge presidential compound, a bunch of fancy hotels for ministers and foreign dignitaries, and the largest Christian place of worship (in a predominately Muslim and animist country...). The city has wide boulevards (like 4-6 lanes), lined with street lamps and trees. Its all very grand, but weirdly the city is nearly empty. And the streets have huge potholes and trash heaps spilling out onto them. Here's a link to some good pictures from the BBC website:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/08/africa_ivory_coast%E2%80%99s_plush0_empty_capital/html/1.stm

And also a picture... across from my office is the huge presidential compound, which is surrounded by a lagoon filled with crocodiles! These crocs are well-loved and get fed live chickens once a day. There are separated from street by a measly fence. This crocidile thinks I want to feed him.



I've been meaning to write more often, its just that there never seems to be much time!