Rain Defeats Togo Business

Rain Defeats Togo Business

Rain Defeats Togo Business
Lome, Togo West Africa
Sunday, May 20, 2007
by Andy of HoboTraveler.com

Monday morning here in Lome, Togo, a cooling heavy rain started about 7:00 am and has dwindled to a light sprinkle at 10:07 am.

The rain has destroyed all but the essential business, the stay open rain or shine, sleet or dark of night types.

95 percent of business is at a standstill, they did not open in the capital of Lome, Togo.

Rain, work called off on the count of rain…

I am in the Garden of Eden, and work is just a hobby, something to do like a wife who married a rich husband and decides to work for something to do.

I am traveler, a tourist, and I take all rain days off, just not possible, and of no fun, to walk around in the rain in other countries. I normally hang around the room and type on this silly computer while it rains or read a book; it does not rain all day, even in the so-called-monsoon countries.

However, this morning, I got hungry, so I left the room, thinking, I will just step out with my umbrella and get a quick snack. I took a left out of the hotel, and then took another hard left. I will go to Belindas place and get four of them hard biscuit cookies. Nope closed, therefore I backed up, and I decided to walk North and then take a left and pass all the small shops, yes, the popcorn, peanut, sowing place is open. No food for sale and none of the workers are there, except for my one friend. I start weaving though the neighborhood, stopping at every food stop I know, none are open, finally I make it 6 blocks away from the hotel, and to the first major street, I think it is name Duisburg, well, the one major bread shop is open, and the not friendly, but cheap and efficient food shop is open. There was no way to get a quick snack, the city is closed.

This really is the Garden of Eden; only in the Garden of Eden would all the business stop because of rain, the funny part, it they normally live in the same place as their shop. This is how they seem to be continually open, they open a front door to leave and the business is open, therefore to open during the rain is, not a problem.

I wish I could feel a little sorry for these people, the more I am here, the more I realize this is a paradise, and working is a hobby and option, not a need. I use to watch a men in Mexico, they would work labor until they had beer money, then stop.

I cannot imagine why anyone would send this country money; it just seems like naïve thing to do.

Rain Defeats Togo Business