Burkina Faso

Difficult to write anything about a town after a very short stay. So let's start with the name "Ouagadougou". It must be one of the best sounding name for a capital, but its meaning is certainly more important as it stands for "the place to give respect".

The capital has a lively atmosphere with lots and lots of motorcycles - I was surprised not to see any minibus taxi. The city is quite spread out with attempts made at alleviating pressure on the downtown area, for example with the creation of the neighbourhood "Ouaga2000". It is impressive that the population increased from 60000 people at independence in 1960 to 1700000 today. And as usual in Africa, it is very visible that the majority of the population is young. This represents both challenges and opportunities. Let's hope the leaders - and the population at large - will direct the country on a successful path. 

Memorial Ouaga2000 (does it look like a mini Eiffel Tower?) is one of the landmark of the capital. It has the added benefit of being a popular place to jog.

Ouagadougou is also a good place to shop for traditional dress and local crafts, such as music instruments. The handmade village is the best place to go, as it offers a place for artists and producers to showcase their creations and to sell them.