Port Harcourt: Wednesday
I'm not going to talk about the project I'm here for in my blog - there are commercial, political and even security issues there which I am way too flat footed to dance my way round. This will be a more superficial travelogue..
This morning we flew accross Nigeria in a Virgin Nigeria jet and saw nothing but the clouds all the way. It's been cloudy all the time we have been in Abuja and colder than London was when we left. I haven't even opened the SPF50+ sun cream or seen a single mosquito.
The weather in Port Harcourt is the same - over cast and warm but not hot. The city looks very different from Abuja however. It's a twenty minute drive from the airport on a good road past trees and forest and standing water by the side of the road. Once we get into the town however it's a different story. Many of the roads are covered in potholes. Most of the buildings look basic in comparison with those in Abuja. We finally get to our hosts' compound and sit and (at last) get the chance to go online.
The rain starts just as our meeting gets going and it is pouring down. We are on the first floor and can see the water rising in the courtyard below, almost up to the door sills on the car. And still it rains.
After lunch it's still raining as we head out for another meeting, seven of us in a station wagon with three rows of seats, through the flood waters in the street outside. I remember my security training and get them to lock the car doors. The rain is easing off a little when our meeting is over and head abck to the compound, pick up our stuff and head for our hotel.
We are staying at the Beverley Hills Hotel, Port Harcourt. The hotel is fairly full as it is getting ready to host the "Miss Earth" beauty pageant. The lobby is full and they don't have our rooms ready. I throw a tantrum when I can't have a room with Internet but they console me with the computer in the business centre. Apart from that the Hotel is fairly simple. I try Fish pepper soup with dinner. It's as hot and tasty as thai Tam Yum soup with a lump of very good fish. The beef in my stew is too tough for me however. I guess I should stick to fish while I'm down here.
So here I am in the Business Centre, facing the lobby watching the world go by - most of whom do not look like pageant contestants.
Early start tomorrow so I'm off to bed. Nighty night.
This morning we flew accross Nigeria in a Virgin Nigeria jet and saw nothing but the clouds all the way. It's been cloudy all the time we have been in Abuja and colder than London was when we left. I haven't even opened the SPF50+ sun cream or seen a single mosquito.
The weather in Port Harcourt is the same - over cast and warm but not hot. The city looks very different from Abuja however. It's a twenty minute drive from the airport on a good road past trees and forest and standing water by the side of the road. Once we get into the town however it's a different story. Many of the roads are covered in potholes. Most of the buildings look basic in comparison with those in Abuja. We finally get to our hosts' compound and sit and (at last) get the chance to go online.
The rain starts just as our meeting gets going and it is pouring down. We are on the first floor and can see the water rising in the courtyard below, almost up to the door sills on the car. And still it rains.
After lunch it's still raining as we head out for another meeting, seven of us in a station wagon with three rows of seats, through the flood waters in the street outside. I remember my security training and get them to lock the car doors. The rain is easing off a little when our meeting is over and head abck to the compound, pick up our stuff and head for our hotel.
We are staying at the Beverley Hills Hotel, Port Harcourt. The hotel is fairly full as it is getting ready to host the "Miss Earth" beauty pageant. The lobby is full and they don't have our rooms ready. I throw a tantrum when I can't have a room with Internet but they console me with the computer in the business centre. Apart from that the Hotel is fairly simple. I try Fish pepper soup with dinner. It's as hot and tasty as thai Tam Yum soup with a lump of very good fish. The beef in my stew is too tough for me however. I guess I should stick to fish while I'm down here.
So here I am in the Business Centre, facing the lobby watching the world go by - most of whom do not look like pageant contestants.
Early start tomorrow so I'm off to bed. Nighty night.