Just an update on the last couple of days.  Christmas eve I had couple of friends over and we did a very low key dinner and then iced some cookies.  We took plates of cookies and bags of toys around to some of the people in our neighborhood.  The kids we were taking the toys to live either in shacks on open lots or are squatting in unfinished buildings.  These are people who really have nothing.  I've seen the kids play with sticks and ribbons from VHS tapes.  We tried to be stealthy and managed to leave bags at a couple places without being spotted, but at one place we talked to the people and they were very appreciative.  It really made my Christmas to see the kids out playing with their toys in the days following Christmas.

The day after Christmas we decided to drive to the beach in Assine but got lost and didn't find our way.  Instead we stopped at a beach club in Bassam, it looked closed so we went to turn around and then got stuck in the sand.  We put it in 4wd and got out of the sand but it popped out of gear and we couldn't get it to engage at all.  It was not moving.  So, I called our mechanic and he drove out to Bassam on his day off with his son and fixed it within minutes and followed us back into town!!!!!  He is a God send!!!  While we waited for him we did eat the most delicious poulet braisee with mustard sauce and tried to enjoy the beach although we were a little stressed about how bad the damage was to the car.  

Later that night we went out for "mandatory fun" with Shane's office to Rue de Princesse which is sort of like Bourbon St. or the strip in Cancun.  Apparently its got a reputation for being a bit dicey and some locals won't even go, but since we were with a lot of locals who are all law enforcement, we were safe.  We ate and danced a club, and it was soooo funny.  There was a corner with mirrors and the Ivorians love to get out on the dance floor-by themselves- and stare intently at the mirror as they dance.  It was HILARIOUS!!!  We had a blast out there though and for several songs we were sort of in a circle and people were taking turns getting in the middle and doing there own thing for a minute.  It was fun. The DJ was hilarious and one of the Ambo's body guards who was with us is a relative of the owner of the club and at one point they played some song were everyone chanted that was about Fleurgence.  Too funny.  Anyway, I still feel like I belong here more than I have anywhere else.  I'm not sure why but last night as I was, for a while, the only white person in the club, I thought "yep, this is what I always imagined my life would be like!"

These pictures are from the restaurant at the Hotel Ivoire.  Can you tell which decade was their hey day?  Its like stepping  into a time warp.  It used to be a really nice resort hotel, but hasn't been maintained or updated and all the huge lagoon pools with swim up bars are now dry.  Its an accurate picture of Abidjan.  Really great buildings and architecture and zero maintenance.  From far away or at night Abidjan could pass for any modern US city, then you look a little closer and notice the grime, broken windows, and then emptiness.  

Here are a few stores decorated for Christmas.  Sorry they're blurry.  I was taking them from the car.  Cap Sud is the main mall here, its actually very nice.  Its small but has some really pricey stores.  Super Hayat is kind of like a super Target and Orca is like Ikea but with Pottery barn prices.  I think all are Lebanese owned.  The Lebanese have surpassed the French as far as wealthy investors. 

This is people headed to the mosque for Tabaski.  People were out in their finest and the women's clothes were spectacular.  I didn't want to be obtrusive and take too many pictures though.  But traffic was nuts.  We were getting our haircut and they were slaughtering rams in the apartment parking lot.  It was tough to watch.  In the days leading up to Tabaski you would see people pull up to their house or the mosque and pull two (large) live rams out of the trunk of a honda.  It was nuts.

here are some photos of Christmas decorations.  The last two I get, candy cane and Christmas tree.... ok, I'm with you.  But then there are the ram horns????  Maybe for Tabaski the Muslim holiday when they sacrifice goats???  I asked a local and she didn't think so, she had no idea.  The top one is the most confusing: a child with a hood? An elf?  I've asked several Ivorians and gotten "no idea" and "Oh, That's Santa Clause".  Santa???  I don't think so!  

Here's Shane and I with Rinat at the Marine Ball
Me with Genevieve from HR.  She's very sylish and generally wears more typical "western" clothes but I loved her Ivorian dress!!!!

The RSO shop with the DCM.  Lots of love there.
Bassam is really pretty til you notice all the trash.

Presidential looking plates at the Ambo's for Thanksgiving

Note the tank off to the side.  Too bad no one's driving counter flow in this picture because that's normally what they do.  It's insane.

This is from the Hash in Yopougon.  We ran through jungle, fields and rubber farms.

Oh Bouale!

Tenzing ready to fly with his lovely new tag.  

Abidjan

This will hopefully serve to keep anyone interested updated, and give you a glimpse into our life here in Abidjan.  Enjoy!