Welcome to Lomé in Togo; before we describe our visit to our 87th country, Togo, today remains very special not only because we are visiting this unique country on the West Coast of Africa but also because it marks the day we received our temporary residency in Serbia, the country we now call home after entering our eighth year of travelling the world. We celebrated with our dear Serbian crew member Biljana and afternoon tea of scones.
Lomé, the capital of Togo, is situated on the Gulf of Guinea (Atlantic coast) in the extreme southwestern corner of the country. Established as the colonial capital of German Togoland in 1897, Lomé grew in significance as an administrative, commercial, and transport centre. Despite its rich history, Togo remains one of the poorest countries globally, with 95% of the population surviving on less than USD 1.90 daily. This stark contrast reminds us of our fortunate circumstances and the opportunities we've been afforded, which many in Togo can only dream of.
With a current population estimated at 2 million, Lomé has grown substantially from its 1950 population of 33,194. In the last year alone, it has added 61,110 residents.
Our tour with Regent Seven Seas on the Splendor was titled Traditional Togo. It started with a comfortable coach ride through the populous quarters of Lome to a rural school where 1600 students are educated daily.
We were all dropped off to interact with the kids, and we dived straight in to say hello and share candid pics and conversations with them; they were all delightful. We loved the joy and their wide smiles despite their challenges. Our hearts continued to melt.
Unfortunately, our school supplies had been depleted due to previous school visits along the coast. Still, we were elated when we spotted a local kiosk across from the school where we could purchase books and pens for the classrooms, so we hastily bought them out of stock and delivered them to the teachers; the joy on the kid's faces was all we needed. Not only did we help the school with supplies, but we also kept it local and helped the kiosk and their families.
We were told parents provide food for the schoolchildren, as government support is lacking. The primary school curriculum is taught in French, transitioning to English in secondary school.
Travel Tip
Avoid giving money to children directly, as it can encourage mothers to have more children as a source of income. Instead, provide staple foods, sanitary products, toothbrushes, deodorant, or school supplies. Avoid giving sweets due to limited access to healthcare.
Following our emotional visit with the eager young ones, we proceeded to a local village ceremonial grounds, where the royal court welcomed us. There, we sat beneath the shade of trees and enjoyed the monarch's ceremonious appearance.
We enjoyed a festive performance accompanied by the rhythm of royal drums and received a brief presentation on the tribe's customs.
His Majesty responded to the questions from the audience, being sure to offer his availability to visit our countries should we all wish to invite him. He loved to travel as much as we all do.
Lomé was a place where we left a piece of ourselves, touched by the warmth and kindness extended to us. As we sailed away, the optimistic spirit of Togo's people remained deeply embedded in our hearts.
Awesome, love that you gave to the community through the children - pens and books as educational gifts are so self-validating!
Wayne, your pictures speak volumes. Thx for sharing your trip. As always, your posts are informative and inspiring.