Bridging The Continents

Location Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire Podcast Summary It’s December 3rd, and today finally feels like momentum. I talk about receiving my Togo visa electronically, submitting the Ghana visa in person, and paying for a 24-hour turnaround so I can keep moving. With a bit of free time afterward, I take an unexpected detour to a small local zoo, grab an overpriced cappuccino at Second Cup, and return once a...

Location Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire Podcast Summary It’s December 2nd, and today is all about persistence. I walk through another long day trying to complete the Ghana visa application—navigating strict file-size limits, multiple document formats, and the frustration of starting over after spotting mistakes. I also share a strange and unsettling experience with a fraudulent bank call that followed me...

Location West Africa Podcast Summary It’s Monday, December 1st, and today’s episode is a mix of small wins, delays, and a reminder of how complicated modern travel has become. I talk about stumbling across an inexpensive street food win after passing on overpriced restaurants, then dive into the reality of trying to secure visas for Togo and Ghana. Between missing visa approvals, strict document s...

Location Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire → Jacqueville Peninsula → Banco National Park Summary: It’s Sunday, November 30th, and I take advantage of the lighter traffic to get out of the city. I drive about an hour to Jacqueville, a small coastal town that feels surprisingly remote, almost like a peninsula oasis you reach by crossing a single bridge lined with palm trees. I don’t stay long, but I get a feel...

📍 Location Abidjan, Ivory Coast 📝 Episode Notes Good day. November 29th. Before getting into today, there’s something important from yesterday that I need to share. The first time I was in Abidjan was 52 years ago. I was 19 years old and didn’t even have a driver’s license. Back then, I was traveling with Wim Davestein, Ben Barentse, and Lambert Munders. Together, we were part of a team that mad...

Location Yamoussoukro → Abidjan, Ivory Coast Episode Notes Good day — November 28th. I stayed the night at Hotel Aho Aho in Yamoussoukro. When traveling this way, I don’t go out at night. It can be dicey, and I prefer places with security watching the car and a restaurant on site. This hotel worked well. For about 20,000 CFA — roughly $35 — I had a room and breakfast included. Payment is always an...

📍 Location Túncate, Liberia → Danané → Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire 📝 Episode Notes (1st Person) Good day, and Happy Thanksgiving 2025. I started today in Túncate, a prefecture on the Liberian side of the border with Côte d’Ivoire. Just across the line is Danané, the first town on the Ivorian side. Border crossings here usually come in three parts. First is the handwritten passport log, where you...

Location Monrovia → Ganta → Liberia–Ivory Coast Border Town, Liberia Episode Notes In this episode, I finally move on from Monrovia and head deeper into Liberia. What starts as a travel day turns into something much more meaningful. I reflect on meeting Sai Buor Brewer, a Liberian-American librarian who returned to help build schools in rural Liberia, and I follow through on my plan to visit his n...

Location Monrovia, Liberia Episode Notes Today, November 25th, is a very special day for me. It marks 25 years since Suriname became independent from the Netherlands—and it also connects deeply to my own history, because it was on this same date 50 years ago that I left Suriname with the Dutch army. The day began with breakfast at my hotel, which has become a great place to meet people from all wa...

Location Monrovia, Liberia Episode Notes It’s November 24th, and what should have been a simple errand turned into one of those days that only seems to happen on the road in West Africa. I went into town looking for an ATM that actually worked—no luck. It was Monday, and the weekend had wiped them all out. I decided to pivot and get a coffee near a big hotel. I parked where I’d parked before witho...

Location Monrovia, Liberia (Sherry Beach area) Episode Notes In this episode, I talk about slowing down in Monrovia and accepting a place for what it offers rather than what I expected it to be. I finally made it to Sherry Beach—a calm, family-oriented spot with palm trees, seating, and lagoon views—perfect for a quiet Sunday walk. Along the way, I stumbled upon the Chinese ambassador’s residence...

Location Monrovia, Liberia — Calabash Hotel Lagoon & Libassa (Lillaby) Eco Lodge and Wildlife Sanctuary Episode Notes Good day — November 22nd. I realized I forgot to record part of the previous evening, which turned out to be worth revisiting. Next door to my hotel is the Calabash Hotel, and behind it sits an enormous lagoon-side space dedicated to karaoke — and not in a small way. You pay $1...

📍 Location Monrovia, Liberia — Embassy of Ivory Coast & Royal Grand Hotel 📝 Episode Notes In today’s episode, I walk you through an unexpected twist in my Liberia journey. I headed back to the Ivory Coast Embassy to figure out why I never received the call I was promised — and ended up learning more about embassy protocol, long pants etiquette, and the joys of finding good coffee in Monrovia...

Location Monrovia, Liberia Episode Notes On this Thursday, November 20th, I found myself waiting for a call that never came—from the Ivory Coast embassy. I had expected some clarity on my visa situation, but instead I spent most of the day wandering around the hotel and taking in a few local sights. What truly defined the day, though, was an unexpected connection at breakfast. I ended up sitting n...

📍 Location Monrovia, Liberia — November 19 📝 Episode Notes Today I set out with the idea that I’d check out the Diana Hotel and then head straight to the Ivory Coast embassy to pick up my visa and continue my journey. Simple plan — or so I thought. On the way there, I had to detour around a fallen tree someone was clearing from the road, but that was easy enough. Once I got to the embassy, they...

📍 Location Monrovia, Liberia — November 18 📝 Episode Notes Today I’m recording from Monrovia, Liberia — mostly because of some visa hurdles I needed to sort out. West Africa keeps me on my toes with ever-shifting rules, embassy quirks, and unexpected detours. I started the morning heading to the Ghanaian embassy, armed with the usual mix of online forms, unclear requirements, and “sign up first”...

📍 Location Bo → Freetown, Sierra Leone 📝 Episode Notes On November 17th, I woke up in Bo reflecting on the conversations from the night before—especially with Francis, a dedicated pharmacy student at the Central University of Sierra Leone. His commitment to becoming a medical professional, one of only 97 in his class, really stuck with me. The morning brought another unexpected meeting: a driver...

📍 Location Freetown → Bo, Sierra Leone 📝 Episode Notes November 16th started with take two of this recording because take one was drowned out by torrential rain, thunder, and lightning. My goal for the day was to leave Freetown—if the weather and circumstances allowed. Before heading out, I stopped by a supermarket that had been involved in a fraudulent charge on my card two days earlier. I felt...

📍 Location Freetown Peninsula, Sierra Leone 📝 Episode Notes On November 15th, I found myself in a bit of a perceived pickle with the Land Cruiser. With two fuel tanks—one main and one sub—I had switched to the sub the day before, not realizing the main tank was nearly empty. When the sub tank’s empty light came on too, I briefly panicked. Out in the middle of nowhere is not where I want to disco...

📍 Location Freetown, Sierra Leone 📝 Episode Notes On November 14th, I found myself catching up on yesterday's moments—from sipping Ataya tea to wrapping chicken in newspaper that reminded me of fish and chips. The day quickly turned into a whirlwind of motorbike rides, car repairs, unexpected Americans from Giving University, police stops, and even a double ticket for the same missing driver's l...

📍 Location Freetown, Sierra Leone 📝 Episode Notes In today’s episode, I wrap up yesterday’s visa mission and dive into a long, surprising day in Freetown. After sorting out the car situation, I finally managed to get my payment accepted at the bank and returned to the Liberian embassy, where I received my visa—although the official receipt would have to wait until the next day. Still, having tha...

📍 Location Freetown, Sierra Leone 📝 Episode Notes On November 12th, I set out with one main mission: get my visa for Liberia. I’ve learned the hard way that online visa systems in West Africa can be hit-or-miss — and sometimes hit your wallet twice — so I wanted to handle this one in person. Luckily, the Liberian embassy was only about a kilometer and a half away from where I was staying. I arri...

Location: McKinney to Freetown, Sierra Leone Episode Notes: Today I leave McKinney after what’s probably the longest stay on this trip so far. Checking out was more complicated than I expected because the network was down when I tried to pay with a credit card. Once I finally got on the road toward Freetown, I had a series of surprising and memorable encounters. I ran into the chief and his son fr...

Location: Makeni, Sierra Leone – Wusum Hotel Episode Notes: In this episode, we take a slower day at the Wussam Hotel in McKenna, Sierra Leone, reflecting on local flavors, charitable efforts, and the small but meaningful encounters that shape travel experiences. We explore the refreshing hibiscus juice known as bissop , share insights on two impactful non-profits in the region, and highlight the...

📍 Location: Merel’s Village and surrounding chiefdom, Sierra Leone 📝 Episode Notes Good day — November 9th. After staying overnight in the village, I spent the day exploring more of the chiefdom. Every time Merel introduced me, it was as her “uncle,” because in Sierra Leone everyone is considered family. No further questions are asked — it’s just how things work. We visited the healthcare facili...