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The Ivory Coast is the heart of West Africa
Ivory Coast
Finally here we are! The longed-for moment has arrived: tomorrow we leave to the Ivory Coast!
It had been a long time since we wanted to make this journey; for about 3 years I have read and studied the various destinations, even if it is not easy to find a lot of information, as it is certainly not a destination frequented by travelers.
Brussels Airlines: Italian alps - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
Finally here we are, today we leave to the Ivory Coast!
We have been waiting for this moment for months and it has finally arrived!
In Milan it's cold and the thought of taking a break and going to our warm and beloved Africa makes us very happy.
This morning we fly from Linate very early, around 7.00am, so we have to leave the house at 4.00am; we would not be able to wake up so early for anything in the world, except to take a flight, if it then takes us to our beloved Africa, we are happy with this early morning wake-up call.
Brussels Airlines: Sahara desert - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
This morning we woke up very early and we went to the airport: we fly to the Ivory Coast!
We chose Brussels Airlines, it's the first time we fly by this company; we chose it because it is a partner of Miles & More, because it has good times, but also because we have found a super offer for the business class.
At 6.20am we board from Milan Linate, when we take off we enjoy the view of our city from the window of the plane; with the warm colors of dawn Milan is really beautiful!
Bienvenue en Cote d’Ivoire!
This morning we left before dawn from Milan, with zero degrees, and finally we landed at 6.20pm local time, 7.20pm Italian time, at Abidjan, in the Ivory Coast, with 32 degrees and a crazy humidity rate .
Well, definitely the thermal shock is felt, but, despite the humidity, it is a pleasant sensation; fortunately, tomorrow we move to the North, moving away from the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, and leave the damp behind us, but not the high temperatures, though the climate will be much drier.
Abidjan - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
We are in Abidjan, in the Ivory Coast, we arrived last night from Milan and we have not yet completely overcome the thermal shock, but being warm during the winter months is definitely a pleasure.
This morning we woke up early, we had breakfast and then at 7.00am we have an appointment with our guide; he will travel with us for the duration of the trip.
We exchange a few words and he gives us a short briefing on the journey, but then every day he will tell us all the things we will visit; now it's better to go.
In flight to Bouake - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
We are in the Ivory Coast, this morning we were in Abidjan, but then we took a flight to go to Bouake.
We left Abidjan's domestic flights terminal with a propeller plane and headed North, our flight to Bouake is not direct but makes an intermediate stop at Korhogo, that is further North than Bouake; after Bouake we will go right to Korhogo, but by land.
As soon as we leave the city of Abidjan from the window we see only vegetation and some small cluster of houses and some huts; this is the Africa we like.
Bouakè - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
We are in the Ivory Coast, and more precisely in Bouake, we arrived today by flight from Abidjan; now that we check-in at the Mon Afrik Hotel, it is 3.00pm.
However, we decide to go out for a ride with our guide.
We decide to go and see some craftsmen who carve wood, obviously we are looking for masks and other African objects that we love so much.
Bouakè Market - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
We are at Bouake in the Ivory Coast and today we are excited because we will meet the Baulé, the population who lives in these lands; the Baulé are part of the Akan ethnic group, the main group of the Ivory Coast.
First we take a trip to the local market of Bouake, we adore the markets, especially the African ones, usually they are full of colors, perfumes, smells and confusion and this is not far behind.
Baulè Dance - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
We are at Bouake in the Ivory Coast, this morning we visited the local market, we got lost among the goods and people and it was a lot of fun.
But after the market we get into the car and go to a Baule village; it is not a traditional village, probably there are none, or they are in remote areas difficult to reach; but we did not come here to visit the village.
We park the car and go into the village, they were waiting for us and they let us find some chairs where we can sit.
There is a very specific reason why we came here: to attend the Baule dances.
Market - Photo Credits: Silvano Greco
We are in the Ivory Coast and this morning we woke up in our beautiful hotel: Hotel Mon Afrik at Bouake; the main reason why we are here in Bouake is to meet the Baule who live in these lands.
Immediately after breakfast, we check out and leave; shame because we would gladly have spent another night here, in the company of the duiker and the bushbucks living in the garden and at the pool.
First we went for a ride to the market, today is Monday and, after the market with reduced service on Sunday, everyone is here to shop and the stalls are full of goods.