THE MIDWEST AFRICAN SERIES, DAY 1 – DAY 5
DUBLIN – PARIS – ABIDJAN
African Cup of Nations, Abidjan. So here we go, time for another trip, and this time we’re heading to a number of countries after travelling quite a bit last year but only visiting two.
WELCOME TO COUNTRY NUMBER 162…COTE D’IVOIRE
After the hardest landing on record, I arrived in the Paris of Africa. Let’s see if it lives up to its name…
WHERE IS ABIDJAN?
Abidjan
African Cup of Nations, Abidjan
THE IBIS
My trip to Ivory Coast coincides with the Africa Cup of Nations, bringing great atmosphere but expensive hotels! Ibis offers a compact room and a clean bed, but I’m paying £200/night to hear renovations below.
Quick note – the drone made it through airport security. Not sure how, as they flagged it during the bag search, but good result so far!
African Cup of Nations, Abidjan
DAILY INFO….
- HOTELS –
- RADISSON BLU 7.5/10
- IBIS ABIDJAN (ZONE 4C) 5/10
DAY 3 – JACQUEVILLE
On day three, we ventured from Abidjan to the fishing village of Jacqueville. I expected a village walk but ended up drinking local gin with the chief and my guide.
The village is impressive and actually very clean, but we didn’t get to see much beyond the chief’s living room. Anyway, we blasted a few more shots and bolted. I could see how things were going to end up lol.
African Cup of Nations, Abidjan
TRADITIONAL IVORY COAST DRINKS
We stopped at a coconut farm and saw that nothing goes to waste. As we all know, coconuts are used to make coconut oil, water, and milk, but people also burn the shells slightly and sell the charcoal. People use this as a cheaper alternative to gas. Still cheaper than the Ibis!
Then we were back on the drink again, stopping at a roadside vendor to try the local palm wine – one of the most authentic Ivorian Coast drinks you can experience. It’s hard to explain, but imagine Fanta lemon, warm, flat, no sweetness and a harsh smell…so pretty much nothing like Fanta Lemon, but it had that bitter taste. My guide warned that the drink can cause stomach issues, but gave me two cups. 😬
Throughout my time experiencing the African Cup of Nations in Abidjan, I sampled various traditional Ivorian drinks, including local gin, palm wine, and Gnamakoudji juice—the beverage of choice for many locals.
African Cup of Nations, Abidjan
FLAG….
- ORANGE – Stands for the nation’s land, especially the savanna that dominates the northernmost parts of the country.
- WHITE – Is a symbol of peace.
- GREEN – Represents the forests that dominate the southern portion of the nation as well as hope for the future.
The Ivory Coast coat of arms features an elephant’s head (representing the country’s name), a shield with palm trees, a rising sun, and the national motto. During the African Cup of Nations, you’ll see the Ivory Coast coat of arms displayed proudly throughout Abidjan, especially at football stadiums and government buildings.
DAY 4 – ABIDJAN
If I thought we were on the beers early yesterday, then that was nothing compared to today. By 09:30 am, we had already opened a bottle of the local gin. This morning we ventured to Campement, which is, let’s just be frank, a slum. We took a little walk, and the first stop, of course, had to be at a gin stall. I don’t know what the locals were thinking when a tourist is getting knee deep into the local brew before breakfast time.
Campement was the sort of place I like. No tarmac, no westerners, an entirely self-sufficient mini ecosystem with everything the locals need. It could do with a clean up, but sure that adds to the charm…
RELATED READ: THE BIGGEST DERBY IN THE WORLD
TREICHVILLE
After visiting a shady bar, we went to Treichville to explore the market. The market sold everything from cow skin to wooden statues on an industrial scale.
FACTS ABOUT IVORY COAST:
- LANGUAGE – French
- HELLO – Bonjour
- HOW TO CHEERS – Santé!
- BEVERAGE OF CHOICE – Gnamakoudji juice
- POPULAR SPORT – Football
- STAPLE DIET – Grains and Tubers
SCRAN
So far (it’s only been two days, tbf), the food in the Ivory Coast has been pretty decent. Generally, when I feel I’m risking it, I go for the usual chicken and rice because it’s hard to mess that one up, but I know the gin I’m having regularly is probably decent prevention!
We stopped at a a local dome, which is a popular open-air dining area. I might have only had chicken and rice on this trip so far, but it’s been pretty decent.
We visited Bingerville and returned to the Ibis to hear the sound of drills and jackhammers. That’s what you pay $240 a night for in Africa!
DAY 5 – GRAND BASSAM
On our last full day in Abidjan we took a trip to Grand Bassam, the resort capital of the Ivory Coast just 40km south of Abidjan. We visited the local tribal king’s palace, a privileged experience, and saw his slippers.
Life in Bassam is chill. There aren’t a ton of hotels, and the community is greatly mixed between locals and tourists who live side by side. This was also the site of the terrorist attack in 2016, where 4 gunmen armed with Kalashnikovs stormed the beach and surrounding hotels, killing 30 people. The town has yet to recover fully.
AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS
The reason I decided to delay my trip an extra year was for this. Ivory Coast was just hosting the African Cup of Nations, and I wanted to see how seriously people on this continent take their football.
After some beers at a cave bar, we went to Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny. We got €50 tickets to the Nigeria-Cameroon game; the atmosphere was insane. Hardcore fans from both teams had drums, trumpets, and anything to drown out the opposition. Fair play to them, though; they did not stop the entire match!
DULL
This was no match for the game. I watched in Iraq a few months earlier, but it was still good to see people expressing themselves by dancing on the terraces, lol. Nigeria deservedly won the match 2-0.
I’m not sure whether my guide is super chill or just never gets excited. He’s originally from Nigeria, and I think he only smiled when I brought him water lol.
Insider Tips
- Book hotels several months in advance during the African Cup of Nations, as prices increase quickly.
- Carry cash when visiting local markets and roadside stalls, as many places do not accept cards.
- Try local drinks like palm wine and Gnamakoudji juice, but drink carefully if you’re not used to them.
- Visit football stadiums early on match days to enjoy the full fan atmosphere outside the grounds.
- Grand Bassam is a great day trip from Abidjan if you want beaches and a slower pace.
FINAL THOUGHTS
It’s always a major culture shock in Africa, but you adapt after a few days. What a few days here in Abidjan, the Paris of Africa – still not sure how it got that name.
Experiencing the African Cup of Nations in Abidjan was incredible. From sampling traditional drinks with locals to seeing the Ivory Coast coat of arms displayed proudly at the stadium, this trip offered an authentic look at West African culture and football passion.
SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
163/229
NEXT UP
The real travel starts, as we begin our road trip into Liberia, Africa’s first republic and country 164!! Click to read.
This is episode 1 of The Midwest African Series, for the entire series click here.
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