Cotonou - The Charm of a Seaside Village

This is a photo of the apartment building we lived in Cotonou, Dahomey, which is not the the capital.  Situated between Nigeria and Togo, Dahomey has a straight, sandy coastline with an endless line of gently-waving coconut palms.  The city grew up alongside the little fishing village which previously occupied the site. Cotonou is the only maritime outlet of the country.  

Ganvie Village - Benin's Top Tourist Trap

The most popular tourist attraction in Benin is the stilt village of Ganvie.  It is a short trip out from Cotonou, where we were living.  Out in the middle of the vast lagoon is the village of Ganvie.  About 30,000 people live there.  The lagoon is not deep but the village is a long way from shore.  We were told that this place was built long ago by a tribe who believed that the Fon warriors were forbidden from entering the water. Villagers fish and trade, traveling along the water in pirogues with items for sale.  We got out of the boat for a drink and to visit the home of our guide.  We purchased the painting shown in the previous post from L. Lateye, the artist, in town.  It is quite beautiful and striking.  Painted in oil on sailcloth, it is about 2'x6" framed.  As time goes on, we will share other photos of our amazing trip to visit Ganvie.