KBNF Mission Trip – Sierra Leone (post 10)
Walking the streets of Freetown was quite an experience. Potholes, craters and open sewers needed to be avoided. Sidewalks were haphazard if in existence at all. Traffic appeared chaotic as drivers maneuvered on the left or right side of the streets, in vehicles, motorbikes and bicycles. Helmets were seldom seen. Driving skills have to be exemplary to make it through traffic intact. We observed two collisions while in our walks about.
Cars are both available in British style, with the driver sitting in the right side, or the left side as in America. Driving is supposed to be done on the same side of the road as we drive in North America. Taking taxis on several occasions, I discovered that seldom are there handles for the back seat doors. To open the door or window, the driver would hand you a screw driver and you would insert that into the hole. There is an area of the city where the road was in excellent condition. The President, I am told, has made it a priority to restore the roads and this is being done in the north part of the city at the moment.
I was not aware that the Lebanese have been very integral to Sierra Leone since their early days. Lebanese stores and hotels are where the foreigners often visit.
Belgium has regular flights in and out of Sierra Leone four times per week. Other countries don’t have this kind of availability. Some days there is only one flight, other days two and others four. I flew in on Kenyan Air and departed on Royal Maroc.
