Weekend Visits

Sunday has arrived and finally there was a car and a driver outside our appartment who really had no one to take shopping....We decided to take advantage of the opportunity to go on one of our visits. After a brief discussion with our driver Etienne we decided to visit Kinsuka to visit Chez Conseille (Pompage) It is about a 35 minute ride from Belle Vue on the road going to Matadi... Driving on the roads he has to go around the potholes and broken down truck and cars at times, which give you time to look at how the people of Kinshasa live. Mama's with big basin's of bread (baguettes) and a jar of homemade peanut butter making breakfast for anyone who stops by to order with her...Woman going about shopping for vegetables all dressed in the beautiful dresses or skirts and tops made of wax anglais materials...so bright and colourful I just love it! Not to forget the many full little churches (some make shift ) full of people singing and praying...People are very religious here , I have come to the conclusion when there is nothing else, no hope you turn to something or someone that offers some form of hope! I do not think a day goes by when I am not asked if I have a job for someone....it is sad, and I feel a bit helpless at times.

What a surprise when we eventually got to Kinsuka, we where on the Congo River with a view of the rapids and just on the other side of the river Brazzaville. The beach is full of huge black boulders. Here and there you spot a fisherman on the rocks fishing with a net or rod.. and.kids bathing in the shallow water. In this area you also find that they earn minimal money by breaking up these rock, first by making dynamite holes blasting them and then chipping at them to make smaller pieces so that they can build houses .....in a week they can earn about 10 20 dollars doing this.

I also discovered some very nice statues that where made out of cement dotted around the gardens before getting to the beach .I spotted my first African Dwarf Pygmy Kingfisher(Bird)
in some reeds next to what was once upon a time a fish farm.....

After our walk we discovered a little restaurant , where they have a buffet lunch for $20 but we opted for the fried bananas with a fish that is steamed in banana leaves ...it was delicious...

We had a great Sunday and will visit there again......