Lome Favorites

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Fondest memory: Lome is the capital and largest city in Togo, with an estimated population of 900.000. Once claimed to be the Paris of West-Africa, but now one of Africa's least known cities. Lome has its charm with its broad boulevards and nice palm fringed beaches, but there are not many tourists left due to the political situation.

The street scenes combines red gravel street with large boulevards, large squares and green gardens. Lomè is a city with a diversity of buildings, dilapidated facades together with old colonial buildings and other modern buildings, like the headquarters of BCEAO, the BTCI and ECOWAS building. 2 Fevrier Hotel, rising 102 metres is the tallest building in the city.

The six-lane Boulevard de la Marina stretches all the way from the Ghana-border along the beach and to the eastern side of the city. If you follow the road you can get all the way to the Benin-border.
The D-shaped Boulevard du 13 Janvier (often called Boulevard Circulaire) is the main artery of the city, with most places of interest. Restaurants, discoteques, hotels and official buildings.
The center of Lome is around the intersection of Rue du Commerce and Rde la Gare, with the big market Grand marche some few blocks to the east.

Lome has a large harbour and quay, which is important for the country. Togo exports coffee, cocoa, copra, and palm kernels from here. The city has also a oil refinery.
The urban part of Lome starts some metres away from the Ghana-border, only seperated with fences.

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Fondest memory: The road from Ghana to the Togo border-runs first through the savannah, and then on a narrow strip of land between the ocean and the Volta Lake, before you enter the Aflao town. From there you have to walk across the border.

When traveling overland with bus or car you have to get off at Aflao station in Ghana and walk the 300 meters to the border of Togo.
Don't follow the africans when you are approaching the border because they don't need all the paper work as you have to do. First you need to get the Ghana exit stamp in the left building before you cross the border. Just fill out the exit-declaration form and give it to the Ghana immigration officer.

Then you walk to the Togo immigration on the right side at the border. Visa on arrival at Lome border will be issued for a 7 days stay. The price is 10000 CFA (15 USD). The immigration officer will give you an A4 declaration form. Fill it out and deliver it together with your passport and 10000 CFA. Beware that some immigration officers will ask for a dash bribe (1000-5000 CFA). Play stupid and tell them you don't understand, but be polite. They can make some hassle. The hole process take less than 10 minutes, and you will get stamps in two pages of your passport (see picture).

When you walk out of the immigration you are right in the city of Lome. Ask one of the motorcycle-taxis standing there to take you to the hotel. It should be 300 CFA to Hotel le Galion.

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Fondest memory: The president Palace in Lome is located on the western side of Boulevard de la Marina. The Palace doesn't look majestic. You should be discreet if you have planned to take pictures. The soldiers make problems for you if they see you take pictures.

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Fondest memory: Lomè has a harbour and quay on the eastern side of the city. The harbour is one of the largest in the region, and is important for the country. Togo exports coffee, cocoa, copra, and palm kernels from here. An oil refinery is located close to the harbour.

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Fondest memory: Ecowas is the Economic Community of West African States, which is a regional group of fifteen West African countries. Its mission is to promote economic integration between the coutries. The organisation has enough money to display extravagance buildings like this in Boulevard du 13 Janvier.

ECOWAS Headquarters
Lome, Rep. of Togo
Ph: +228 9104346

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Fondest memory: The African women are carrying buckets or other items on their heads. They often carry heavy items, and for long distances. Learning to carry items on the head and keep the balance is not an easy task for a white man. It takes years of training.

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Fondest memory: The D-shaped Boulevard du 13 Janvier (often called Boulevard Circulaire) is the main artery of Lomè, with most places of interest. Restaurants, discoteques, hotels and official buildings like f.ex the Ecowas Building.

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Fondest memory: The six-lane Boulevard de la Marina stretches all the way from the Ghana-border along the beach and to the eastern side of the Lomè. If you follow the road and take the right turn in the last traffic circle, you can get all the way to the Benin-border.