A long weekend in Luanda

Joel at the entrance to our suite and the one behind him is to our bedroom.

Carlota guarding our door, LOL!

Yesterday, Monday 25th, was Africa Day, therefore a big holiday here in Angola. Not so sure if it's a general African holiday or if it's more of a local celebration, but either way, it meant Joel was home (AKA as our hotel suite) for 3 days. Oba, that is good and changes the routine.

The weather was FABULOUS... oh I didn't know I missed so much this African sky and color! In addition to this fabulous weather, here in Luanda we have a breeze, the wind is constantly blowing, if not for the 12 months, at least for the month of May, so yesterday we had sun, strong sun let em add, with constant breeze and good shades. Of course, I am all happy reporting about this fabulous weather because we are just starting the dry season... which Joel's driver, very cutely calls "The Cold Weather". Honestly, clearly, Junior, the driver, and myself, have a different definition of "cold weather", because how can you ever use the words "cold weather" when you are at sea level, 17 degrees South of the Equator??

On Saturday we went into town to get food for madam Carlota and straight after to Talatona, the area where we are trying to get a house. We finalized the day with a quick visit to one of our new friends. At this friend's recommendation, on the way back home, we stopped at a shop to buy some "pastéis", a delicious Brazilian pastry that I believe we inherited from the outstanding Portuguese cuisine, not so sure here. But whether or not we inherited it from the Portuguese, it's delicious. I prefer the ones stuffed with cheese but the shop only had beef , so beef it was!

Sunday brought Joel his first, and I deeply pray it's the very only one, traffic accident in Angola. Really small with NO physical consequence for either sides, but a pain. He was alone in his car and it was his own fault - he hit what the locals call a "taxi", (9-seater vans with NO maintenance nor a single tyre in decent shape, loaded with up to 14 passengers with a driver and an assistant that take people back and forth in the city, at a crazy speed). Joel stayed inside his car with a bunch of locals coming out of the "taxi" to see and discuss the damage. Joel's mind was immediately inundated with thoughts like: call the police or settle right here? Who to call for help? Do I need any outside help or not really? Do I have enough money to pay the taxi's damage on me right now? Good news is that the other driver was also keen to settle it right there, Joel had enough cash on him - most likely overpaid for the damage but was very happy to do so and leave the scene as quickly as possible. Poor man, not a nightmare but not cool either... we guess it's one of those things that happens as soon as you arrive into a new place, like strange noises you hear and then the noises never come back again. Have you had a situation like that?

Late afternoon by the pool

Anyway, the rest of Sunday and Monday took place here at the hotel, but with Joel here and Carlota already used as this being her new home sweet home, we were able to have lunch and dinner together at the restaurant of the hotel, rather than room service. Also, Joel very sweetly, made sure I broke my routine, by dog sitting while I went to the gym (not so cool, LOL) and went to the shady area of the pool for some reading. I surely don't understand anything about the right place to build a hotel... this hotel here is in an ugly part of town, has over 140 horizontal type rooms, is constantly full or almost full, guests always have that business look, one can hear various languages as English, different accents of Portuguese, French, German, Russian... lucky owner who didn't ask my opinion if this would be the correct location for his hotel, LOL!

Ok, so Luanda does not offer us a life as we knew it, but there is good and evident hope for some peaceful and very friendly life! Amen to that!