Getting used to driving Benin-style again was easy: add lots of honking and weaving between cars and motorbikes! I drove a lot of the time we were in Parakou, a very busy town, since I knew the route and destinations. There were more paved roads and traffic lights than when I lived there almost 20 years ago but the main roads were in a worse state and more crowded than when I regularly visited there 10 years ago.
Janet & I stayed with friends of hers on the SIM property on the northern side of town. The site was peaceful except for the timber yard which unloaded heavy logs at 5 am and 11pm!
We made the 20 min trip into the centre of town and/or out to SIM's offices on the southern side each day. I got to catch up with old friends, both African and missionary, and also do a little publicity for IMS.
We bought some local specialties, like chopping boards (good wood is scarce in Burkina), and cards and jams from the monastery where we had a long walk.
The stay was short (2 1/2 days) before we had to hit the road back again!
