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In Abidjan with Etienne December 1990December 1990 remains firmly in my memory travelling to Cote D'Ivoire with expectant anticipating eyes tension traced through my mind Muritala Mohammed International Airport the ticket queue of passengers accompanied by my family eventually I was on the plane excitement drilled my brain at last I was in the air Nigeria Airways and in flight refreshment the clouds viewed from my plane seat urged me to reach and touch not allowed for danger to my self air pressure and cabin safety then a stopover I recollect at Accra with the city in the distance my stomach gave a little groan nervousness in belly muscles and time passed by like a charm of machine technology and beings we landed at Abidjan at night and the breeze was magical bonne soir nigeriane the spirit of francophone Africa speaking in french we alighted a taxi called by my Dad my heart flying like a new born eagle my face found the night a new companion in the spectrum of light into the vision of an 11 yr old boy Ivorian morning Fratenite matin the daily newspaper with words and lines of french breakfast of long french bread yaourt couscous jus d'ananas ivorian bananas cow milk from the local market a home for the holiday flat upstairs in Marcory suburb city life neat taxi's and buses remarkably orderly I must admit better than the ones at home joy and irritation two emotions playing for a place music different and curious Alpha Blondy, Djanka Diabate strolling through Deux Plateau A bus taking us into Treichville Super Marche and abidjan spirit the girl downstairs with feline finesse spectre for this tourist's gaze shopping for brogues a purchase of a cassete rap music with french label turbo B and Bobby Brown what a nice town Acheke and soup sweet days to remember joyeaux noel meeting an ivorian boy called Etienne and playing soccer in the compound memories to cherish in time Poetry Ad-Free Upgrades Vote for this poem
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